PEOPLE who want to pay their respects to a fallen soldier from Bicester are urged to arrive early when his body arrives in Oxford today.

Larger crowds than normal are expected to pay their respects to Warrant Officer Class 2 Charles Wood, of Bicester-based 23 Pioneer Regiment. The 34-year-old was killed in Afghanistan last week.

The cortege carrying his body is expected to arrive at the John Radcliffe Hospital's Headley Way entrance in Headington at about 2.45pm.

Marston Royal British Legion branch secretary Jim Lewendon said: “There will be more interest, because he's a local lad. We will get quite a few from Bicester.”