A soldier from the 7th Battalion The Rifles has been killed in Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defence said.

He was killed as a result of small arms fire during a foot patrol near Sangin in central Helmand Province, on Sunday morning.

The soldier was attached to the 3rd Battalion The Rifles Battle Group. His family have been informed.

The latest death brings the number of British troops killed on operations in Afghanistan since 2001 to 233.

Spokesman for Task Force Helmand, Lt Col David Wakefield, said: "He died in the course of his duty.

"He will be missed by us, his comrades, and we will remember him."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8361404.stm