Three British soldiers have been killed by a man wearing an Afghan police uniform who shot them at a checkpoint.

Tributes were being paid today to a senior British army officer killed in action in Afghanistan who was the highest-ranked British soldier to die since the Falklands war.

Britain was this evening poised to recognise the independence of Kosovo, as the Balkan province prepares to break away from Serbia tomorrow.

British troops are on standby to fly to Kosovo in the event of violence breaking out following the province’s expected declaration of independence tomorrow.