A 23-YEAR-OLD soldier has appeared in court charged with murdering a fellow member of his unit who was found dead at their barracks.

Lance Corporal Richard Farrell, who is alleged to have killed Corporal Geoffrey McNeill last Saturday, was remanded in custody after making a brief appearance at Telford Magistrates' Court.

Farrell, a member of 1st Battalion, The Royal Irish Regiment, spoke only to confirm his name, age, date of birth, and that he was based at Clive Barracks in Tern Hill, north Shropshire.

Cpl McNeill was a member of the 1st Battalion The Royal Irish Regiment which helped run a 'shuttle bus' service in Upton using their troop carrier vehicles to get people to the shops and back after being cut off by the floodwaters.

The murder inquiry is being led by West Mercia Police.