Bravery medal for 'double blast' soldier from Devon

Colour Sgt Baines helped wounded colleagues while under fire

A soldier from Devon has been presented with the Military Cross by the Queen in a ceremony at Buckingham Palace.

Colour Sergeant Paul Baines, 35, from Torquay, was awarded the medal for gallantry in Afghanistan in 2009.

The member of the 1st Battalion The Coldstream Guards, helped wounded colleagues during a double bomb blast while under enemy fire, despite being injured himself.

After the ceremony he said he "had not wanted to let his friends down".

Colour Sgt Baines was one of a number of service personnel to receive the Military Cross earlier.

The double bomb blast happened while he and his unit were on an operation against a Taliban stronghold.

Describing his actions he said: "I know it's a cliche but it's our job and we get trained to do it.

"Part of it's adrenalin, part of it's your job, part of it's the fact you don't want to let your friends down and look bad in front of them.

"There were a lot of people involved in that IED [Improvised Explosive Device] blast that didn't get recognised."