THE heartbroken family of a teenage female soldier from Hampshire killed in a roadside bomb has spoken for the first time about their devastating loss.

Speaking from their family home in Swanmore they said they were "proud" of what 19-year-old Private Eleanor Dlugosz had achieved.

Pte Dlugosz, known to her friend's as Ella, was one of four soldiers who died when their armoured Warrior vehicle was targeted by insurgents just West of Basra.

The teenager's devastated mother, Sally Veck, 41, said her daughter had died doing the job she loved, and that nothing would have stopped her from taking up her role on the front line.

She said: "She loved her job and she was my action girl. Nothing would have stopped her from serving her country and she was doing exactly what she wanted.

"We are so proud of what she had achieved, and this is a horrific loss for everyone who knew her. I don't know how we will cope with this tragedy."

Pte Dlugosz' grandmother Mary Veck, added: "We couldn't have stopped her going. She chose to do it. We are all absolutely heartbroken but very proud of her at the same time."

Friends and colleagues from the Army described her as a strong and morally courageous young woman who brightened everyone's day."

Pte Dlugosz had been serving with the Royal Medical Corp and was responsible for providing medical support to patrols from the 2dn Ballation Duke of Lancaster's Regiment.