Skipton soldier Jayne Barrett had an important role to play when three young men were buried on Friday - 50 years after they died in the battle to secure Arhem Bridge.

Jayne, an air trooper, was the only female chosen to represent her regiment, the 661 Squadron, at the emotional ceremony at the Commonwealth War Grave in Oosterbeek, Holland.

She acted as hat orderly, draping the coffins with the Union Jack before they were lowered into their final resting place in front of hundreds of mourners.

"It was a great honour, and a very proud occasion for her," said her mother, Jacqueline, who lives in Skipton.

Sergeant David Thompson, Sergeant Lawrence Howes and Corporal George Froud were killed in September 1944 as they took part of Operation Market Garden.

The bodies of Sgt Thompson and Sgt Howes were found in Sonnenberg in 1994, and the remains of Cpl Froud were discovered in a Dutch doctor's garden last year.

The army decided to bury the three men with full military honours on the 50th anniversary of the battle - September 18 1998.

A former pupil of Cross Hills' South Craven School, Jayne is a physical training instructor with the 661 squadron, based in Guterslom, Germany.

She is a member of the British Army's rounders, football and rugby teams, and also plays for a Germany civilian team.

At a competition last month, she was awarded two gold medals - for the 1500 metre and shot put events - and won the overall medal for the best athlete.

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