Soldier killed in Afghan gun battle

The soldier, from 1st Battalion The Royal Welsh, died as a result of a gunshot wound sustained during an exchange of fire with insurgents near Showal in Helmand Province. His next of kin have been informed.

The latest death takes the number of UK service personnel who have died since the start of operations in Afghanistan in 2001 to 281 and is the third death this month.

Lieutenant Colonel David Wakefield, the spokesman for the British Army's Task Force Helmand, said:"He died doing his duty and he will be deeply missed by us, his comrades, but his indomitable courage in the face of the enemy will be remembered."