Terry Lloyd's funeral is due to be held next week

Mr Lloyd, 50, was shot dead on 22 March while covering the conflict in the desert.

He was reporting independently - one of the few journalists not "embedded" with US and UK forces.

Two of Mr Lloyd's colleagues are still missing.

On Tuesday Oxfordshire coroner Nicholas Gardiner said father-of-two Mr Lloyd was apparently "caught between crossfire of opposing forces and died from injuries received".

His body was flown in to RAF Brize Norton, Oxfordshire, on Friday. The hearing was told ITV News presenter Sir Trevor McDonald identified Mr Lloyd's body in Kuwait.

Officially missing

The inquest was adjourned for 10 weeks.

A funeral in Mr Lloyd's home village of Cuddington, Buckinghamshire, is due to be held next week, followed by cremation.

Mr Lloyd, who started his career in Derby, leaves a widow Lynn, daughter Chelsey, 21, and son Oliver, 11.

ITV News cameraman Fred Nerac and local translator Hussein Othman are still officially missing after the incident which happened as they were trying to reach fighting near Basra.

Another cameraman, Daniel Demoustier, was injured as the crew drove towards the key southern city in two vehicles, but was able to get to safety.