MOURNERS were gathering today for the funeral of the Herefordshire skydiver who plunged 13,000ft to his death after his parachute was sabotaged.

The parents of Army cadet Stephen Hilder, aged 20, from Hereford, who died at Hibaldstow Airfield, north Lincolnshire, on Friday, July 4, have voiced their gratitude for the support they have received from across the country.

"We hope that today's service will be an opportunity for us and Steve's friends to celebrate his life," said Paul and Mary Hilder.

"We are very grateful for the love and support that has been given to us by family, friends and acquaintances.

"And we are also aware of a general feeling of support for us from around the country. The messages we have received from complete strangers have been amazing."

Humberside Police launched a murder inquiry after discovering the cord on Mr Hilder's main parachute and the strapping on his reserve parachute had been deliberately cut.

The equipment was repacked in such a way that Mr Hilder failed to notice that someone had tampered with it.

Mr Hilder, an officer cadet from the Royal Military College of Science at Shrivenham, near Swindon, Wiltshire, died during a week-long competition.

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

Mr Hilder's funeral was due to be held at 2pm at St Mary The Virgin's church, in Burghill, near Hereford, and lead by the Rev Jimmy Morrison.

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

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

The service will also include a reading from the book of Isaiah and prayers from Father David Kelly, senior chaplin at the Defence Academy.

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

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.