Jennifer Rimell described her husband as popular and caring

Father-of-three Ian Rimell and his bodyguard were attacked by gunmen in a roadside ambush on Thursday.

Mr Rimell, 53, from Kidderminster, Worcestershire, had been in Iraq since July working for the British-based charity Mines Advisory Group (Mag).

His widow, Jennifer, said she was devastated and very angry that her husband had been killed.

Helping children

In a statement issued through West Mercia Police, Jennifer Rimell said: "We are devastated by the loss of Ian, who was very well liked wherever he went.

It's hard for us to accept that such a caring, popular man should be killed in this way Jennifer Rimell

"Ian was a family man and we have three wonderful children, Justine, 25, Robert, 22 and Simon, 19.

"We were all so very proud of Ian who spent every day of his life trying to help others."

"He was not a soldier and he was in Iraq to help the people that lived there. That makes it even harder for us to accept."

She said her husband left the Army in 1994 and went on to receive the British Empire Medal for his work removing mines in the Oman after the Dhofar War.

She added: "Ian helped to clear land in northern Iraq, where many children played, and the precious metals obtained from the bombs were given back to the community.

Ian Rimell was awarded the British Empire Medal for his work

"This meant that the local school could be rebuilt and equipment was also provided."

Mr Rimell was with his bodyguard driving in their vehicle, which was marked with the distinctive emblem of the Mag charity, when they came under fire close to the city of Mosul.

The 53-year-old had spent the day clearing a scrapheap of ammunition and hidden explosives and had delivered the metal for use in rebuilding a local school.

Mrs Rimell said: "Ian always wanted a new challenge and when he completed a project he was interested in seeing the outcome and that the locals could return to normal life.

"I cannot put into words the loss that we feel. It's hard for us to accept that such a caring, popular man should be killed in this way."

Mr Rimell's bodyguard, Salem Ahmed Mohammed, was left in a critical condition as a result of Thursday's attack.

A Foreign Office spokeswoman said that Mr Rimell was the second British civilian to have died in Iraq since the end of conflict.