A Watford soldier killed in friendly fire while serving in Afghanistan is to have a road named in his honour.

Thomas Sawyer Way is due to serve the hospital and 700-home development planned for the regeneration of the area behind Vicarage Road.

The road is being named in honour of Captain Tom Sawyer, who died in Helmand Province in 2009.

His parents, Sue and Martyn said they were “proud and delighted”.

Sue Sawyer said: “It is so very important to us to keep Tom’s memory alive and we, as Tom’s parents, our daughter Wendy and Katy, Tom’s wife feel that it is a very fitting honour to be part of such a prestigious and wonderful new build for our town.

“Tom was part of a very loving family and had many friends, he touched the lives of so many people – people who have shared many memories with us since we lost him.

"It is lovely to think that driving down that road and seeing Tom’s name on the road sign might well bring a smile to someone’s face as they think of a special memory of Tom.”

When finished, the road will lead from the back of the hospital by the Cardiff Road industrial estate to Wiggenhall Road, it will then cut through the playing fields by the Irish Centre before linking with Dalton Way.

Mrs Sawyer said the family has been asked for their help to design the road signs.

She added: “Although we don’t have a date as yet, we are very excited that the road completion is on target for later this year and we are very much looking forward to the road being opened and seeing Tom being honoured in this way.

“We are so very proud that his name will live on just as we are so very proud of all he achieved and of the wonderful loving, much loved and caring man he was.”

Mr Sawyer died when he was struck by a Javelin anti-tank missile during a joint operation with Danish forces to clear Taliban compounds north east of Gereshk, central Helmand.

He was serving in The Royal Artillery.

Watford mayor Dorothy Thornhill said Tom was a big football fan, and the new road runs between his old house in Blackwell Drive and the football ground in Vicarage Road.

She said: “You look around Watford and all the roads are named after the great of Watford, people that have contributed things.

“To my mind, nobody can actually contribute more than their life so there was no question of the new road name.

“It is the very least we can do.”

The road will officially be opened in autumn.