THE pain of losing a child is unbearable, as Alex Green's dad knows.

As Bill Stewardson prepares to say goodbye to his beloved son, today, Thursday, he explains how Alex's death in Iraq should not be in vain.

The 21-year-old Kingsman, from Orford, died on January 13 after he was shot escorting a convoy in Basra, where he was stationed.

Mr Stewardson said: "Every parent says their child is the best, but just read the tributes (on the Warrington Guardian website) - nobody has a bad word to say about our Al.

"When I see what people have written, I'm in tears and then I'm laughing.

"Believe me, the world is a poorer place without him.

"I don't want any more people telling me they are sorry to hear about Al's death and then in the next breath say the war is wrong and our troops should be pulled out of Iraq.

"It's a hard one, of course, but my son died doing that job, so if we pull out now his death will have been in vain."

Mr Stewardson, together with Alex's mum, Janice, and his brothers, Nick, aged 26, a Royal Marine, and Shaun, aged 16, will remember their loved one at his funeral at St Elphin's Church today at 11.30am. The family welcomes mourners lining the funeral route as a mark of respect.

Alex leaves a two-year-old son, Bradley.

Officers from the 2nd Battalion the Duke of Lancaster's Regiment, with whom Alex served, will also attend to pay their respects.

Like his elder brother, Alex's aim had always been to become a Royal Marine, a move he had been intending to make on his return from Basra.

Mr Stewardson said: "When you lose a son you have to believe they have gone out there to accomplish something otherwise their death was for nothing. National tabloids running stories about soldiers who have died and telling the Government to pull the troops out has a bad effect on the boys out there, it's demoralising for them to read such biased stuff."

Alex Green is the 130th solider to be killed in Iraq and, as his dad points out, won't be the last.

"To say the troops should be pulled out is disrespectful. These people are dying making a difference out there. And what they're doing is having a massive effect.

"If our troops pulled out someone else would have to go in and help restore democracy for little bullied nations.

"Look at Ireland and Kosovo - they got sorted in the end.

"People always say nice things when someone dies, but with Al what has come out was that he was an outstanding soldier.

"I was proud of the bloke who became a soldier.

"Once the funeral is over we will be able to breathe a sigh of relief and get on with our lives without this black cloud over us."