British soldier killed in Afghanistan

A bomb disposal expert has been killed in an explosion in southern Afghanistan, Britain's Ministry of Defence said.

The soldier, from 23 Pioneer Regiment, The Royal Logistic Corps, was serving with the Counter-Improvised Explosive Device Task Force and clearing a road in Lashkar Gah district, Helmand Province, when he was caught in the blast yesterday.

The soldier’s family has been informed.

A total of 348 UK military personnel have died since operations in Afghanistan began in 2001.