British soldier killed by Taliban at checkpoint

The serviceman, from 3rd Battalion The Rifles, was the second member of UK forces in two days to be shot dead near Sangin in Helmand Province.

He died after coming under fire while part of a team partnering Afghan soldiers at a checkpoint.

His family have been informed.

Lieutenant Colonel David Wakefield, spokesman for Task Force Helmand, said: “He died protecting the people of Sangin. He will be sorely missed by us, his comrades. We will remember him.”

The second dead soldier, from 4th Battalion The Rifles, serving as part of the 3 Rifles Battle Group, was shot dead on a foot patrol north-east of Sangin.

He was expected to be named last night.

Neither death was connected to the ongoing Operation Moshtarak to clear the Taliban out of strongholds in Helmand.

The death takes the total number of British troops who have died in Afghanistan to 268.

Yesterday the town of Chorley was also brought to a standstill for the funeral of Warrant Officer Class 2 David Markland, 36, of 36 Engineer Regiment. He died as he led a team clearing improvised explosive devices last month. More than 1,000 people attended the funeral service and the town centre was virtually silent for an hour.