A UK soldier has been shot dead in Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has confirmed.

The serviceman, from 1st Battalion The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment, died in southern Afghanistan on Saturday, an MoD spokesman said.

The soldier's next of kin have been informed.

The latest death brings the number of British military personnel killed on operations in Afghanistan since 2001 to 332.

The soldier died after insurgent forces opened fire in southern Nad-e Ali. UK troops returned fire during the incident.

Task Force Helmand spokesman Lt Col James Carr-Smith said: "He was part of a security cordon that was providing protection to enable a meeting to take place between local elders and Afghan troops when he was killed by small arms fire. "He died in the course of his duty. He will be sorely missed and his actions will not be forgotten."
Lt Col Carr-Smith added: "We will remember him."