MOURNERS were gathering today for the funeral of skydiver Stephen Hilder, who died after his parachute was sabotaged.

The 20-year-old officer cadet, from Shrivenham's Royal Military College of Science, plunged 13,000ft to his death at Hibaldstow Airfield, north Lincolnshire, on July 4. Humberside Police launched a murder inquiry after discovering that the cord on Mr Hilder's main parachute and the strapping on his reserve chute had been cut. The equipment was repacked in such a way that Mr Hilder failed to notice that it had been tampered with.

Mr Hilder, from Hereford, died after his last jump of a week-long competition.

Footage of his last moments were shown on the BBC's Crimewatch UK programme on July 24.

The funeral was being held at 2pm at St Mary The Virgin's church, in Burghill.

His parents, Paul and Mary, both 51, his sister Kate and girlfriend Ruth Woodhouse, 24, from Stafford, were all expected to attend.

Four of Mr Hilder's friends were due to read a poem by John Gillespie Magee, while his godmother Jill Barber was due to read a passage from the Corinthians.

The service will also include a reading from the book of Isiah and prayers from Father David Kelly, Senior Chaplin at the Defence Academy.

There will also be music from a percussion group, which Mr Hilder was involved in.

The congregation will be asked to make donations in memory of the skydiver to the Herefordshire Instrumental Music Service (Percussion Group) and A Taste For Adventure, an outdoor activity centre for disadvantaged children.