FAMILY and friends of a south Essex soldier killed in action gathered in Hawkwell as a road was named in his honour.

Lieutenant Aaron Lewis, 26 from Rochford, was fatally wounded when the gun position he was commanding came under attack in Afghanistan in 2008.

Aaron Lewis Close was officially named in his honour, following a suggestion from the Echo’s political reporter David Trayner, with support from Rayleigh and Wickford MP Mark Francois.

The initiative is part of a Government scheme to name new roads in memory of soldiers killed in the line of duty.

The close forms part of the Clements Gate Development, in Hawkwell, built by housing developer David Wilson Homes.

Aaron’s mother Helen said: “It was a really fitting and lovely tribute to my son.

“There are so many people to thank but the developer has been great, inviting us to their head office, asking us how we would like it to be done. They’ve also put in a bench in his honour.”

The bench, overlooking a green in the middle of the close, bares a plaque telling Aaron’s story and words from his commanding officer in the 29 Commando Regiment of the Royal Artillery.