The mother of a war hero killed in the Iraq conflict has welcomed plans to add her son's name to a Skipton war cenotaph.

But Anne Guy, the mother of 29-year-old Royal Marine Captain Philip Guy - one of the first soldiers to die in the conflict - has condemned proposals for a high-profile ceremony. Mrs Guy said her family had not been consulted about the plan, and she voiced concerns that Skipton had "claimed" Capt Guy as one of its sons.

The ceremony is being organised by ex-Royal Marine Alex Bentley, service secretary of the Skipton Branch of the Royal British Legion.

He is planning a dedication service in Holy Trinity Church, Skipton, followed by a marching band through the town to the cenotaph for the unveiling of a plaque.

But Mrs Guy of Aysgarth, North Yorkshire, said: "I feel that people in Skipton are claiming him.

"He only lived in the town a week. He lived in Bishopdale, Aysgarth, for 30 years."

Mrs Guy, who attended her son's military funeral with her husband, Stuart, son Ian, and Capt Guy's wife Helen, on April 11 at Holy Trinity Church, Skipton, says she would accept her son's name being placed on the cenotaph. But she wants the ceremony to be low-profile. "This needs to be discussed more before anything is agreed," she said. "I'm concerned that the family has not been consulted. Nothing has been confirmed by us.

"I know the British Legion tried to contact Helen but we have heard nothing. I would agree to his name being put on the war memorial with other soldiers, but we don't want something involving a cast of thousands and a marching band."

Mr Bentley said: "We must remember him in the town. All the people of Skipton will want to remember him."

He said he hoped the dedication could take place before the end of the summer. A Royal Marines spokesman confirmed that Capt Guy's name would be placed in the Royal Marine Corps Book of Remembrance.

Capt Guy was originally from Bishopdale in North Yorkshire and set up home in Skipton, with his wife, Helen, after their marriage at Holy Family Church in January 2000. His wife wanted to live in Skipton to be near her sister when Capt Guy was away on duty.

Thousands of people attended Capt Guy's funeral, lining the town's High Street. He died on Friday, March 21, along with seven other troops, in a helicopter crash returning from a mission.

On April 1, his wife gave birth to a daughter, Emily Catherine, a sister to 20-month-old Henry.

Capt Guy's name will be the first to be added to the Skipton cenotaph since the First World War.

Soldiers who died in the Second World War were honoured on a plaque on gates at the entrance to Aireville Park, Skipton.

Meanwhile, the 31 British soldiers killed in Iraq were being honoured by their comrades at a service in Basra, Iraq, today.

It will be the first time soldiers still serving in Iraq will have gathered to pay tribute to those killed in the war. The service was the idea of Staff Sergeant John Landy, who was moved when he heard about Capt Guy's child being born after his death.