A SOLDIER who discovered a roadside bomb was honoured for his heroics, along with 89 others in Abingdon yesterday.

Brigadier Chris Murray, the British Army's director of logistics, presented medals at Dalton Barracks to the troops from 6 Close Support Squadron, of 12 Logistics Support Regiment, for their service in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Corporal Christopher Topping, who lives in Wantage with fiancée Stephanie Gibbs, was congratulated by Brigadier Murray for being awarded the Brigade Commanders Coin while on tour in Iraq.

While out in convoy, Cpl Topping noticed what looked like a rock in the middle of a busy road and found it was an unexploded roadside bomb.

Cpl Topping, 24, and his unit cordoned off the road and protected the bomb disposal team while they worked. He said: "The enemy were watching us and saw we had set up a cordon and they started firing at us."

Other soldiers from the regiment were presented with Telic medals for tours in Iraq and Heric medals for time in Afghanistan.

Private Darren Brown, of County Durham, was awarded a medal for accumulative service after notching up the equivalent of three years on tour.