The heartbroken family of hero teenage soldier Joe Murphy believe he was too young to be on the front line in Afghanistan, where he was killed in a bomb blast.

The 18-year-old’s aunt, Annette Ryan, opened her heart as the family prepared for his body to be returned to the UK today.

Meanwhile an angry political debate is raging about whether Britain’s troops have the resources and equipment necessary to battle the Taliban.

Rifleman Murphy’s parents, Brian and Jill, from Castle Bromwich, have been too upset to talk in detail about the death, but Mr Murphy said: “He’s a hero and so are all the other lads.”

The soldier, who served with the 2nd Battalion The Rifles, was carrying his wounded “battle buddy”, 20-year-old Daniel Simpson, from the scene of a blast when they were hit by a second explosion in Sangin, Helmand, on Friday. Five men from the same platoon lost their lives in the attack, including three who were just 18 years old.

“He was too young,” said Mrs Ryan, aged 48. “There were three of them that were 18 years of age and perhaps they shouldn’t have been there.”

Mrs Ryan said her Aston Villa fanatic nephew was a “loveable rogue” who gained an A* grade in art at Archbishop Grimshaw School in Solihull.

His family have released a self portrait which hangs in the hallway of their home.

Rifleman Murphy joined the army at 16. He was posted to Afghanistan just a month after his 18th birthday.

Relatives said Rifleman Murphy’s 22-year-old brother, Ben, was “inconsolable”.

“We are still in shock but we are so proud of him,” said Mrs Ryan. “He was like a son to me and I absolutely adored him.”

Senior officers have paid tribute to the bravery of Rifleman Murphy and others in his battle group who went to the aid of comrades who were injured in the first explosion. Taliban fighters had rigged a second bomb to kill those who helped their wounded colleagues.

Rifleman Simpson was still alive when he was picked up by Rifleman Murphy, but the second device killed them both instantly.

Mr and Mrs Murphy will stand alongside the bereaved parents of their son’s four comrades as a Hercules plane returns the bodies to RAF Lyneham, in Wiltshire, today.

They will include 28-year-old father, Corporal Jonathan Horne, from Walsall, who came home three months ago for the birth of his second child, Jessica.

Cpl Horne was described by his widow, Rachel, as “the most caring, thoughtful, funniest, loving and generous person I have ever known.”

The soldier, who previously served with the 1st Battalion, The Royal Greenjackets, had also been on operations in Iraq – where he was wounded in action – and Kosovo.

Jonathan’s brother Peter said that more should be done for the troops: He said: “Jonathan was looking in magazines to buy stuff to take with him like better sleeping bags and vests – stuff that should have been provided for him.”