THE brother of a Bury Fusilier currently serving in Iraq, has been shot dead while on holiday in Jordan.

Christopher Stokes died when a gunman fired at his tourist party as they visited a Roman site in Amman on Monday.

His brother is Sergeant Phil Stokes who serves with the Territorial Army unit based at Bury's Castle Armoury Drill Hall.

Ironically, the boys' parents initially thought it was their soldier son who had been killed when police informed them of the tragedy.

Christopher, a chartered accountant from Littleborough, was killed and six other tourists were wounded by terrorist fanatic.

Rod and Norma Stokes said they felt "blank" when they were told of Christopher's death.

Mrs Stokes said she had been phoned by her neighbour, after police had called at her home to break the news while she was out. She said: "I knew straight away there was something the matter. I didn't really know which one to think it was. I just said to them in the first place Is it Phil?, and my neighbour said: "No, it's Chris'."

She added: "It would be difficult whichever one of them it was, but I suppose you're more prepared for the fact that it might have been Phil than Christopher."

Sgt Stokes made history in 2002 when he and fellow Fusiliers from the borough became the first all-TA platoon to deploy on an operational tour in Afghanistan since the Second World War. The 31-year-old, who lives in Bury, is expected to be flown home on compassionate leave.