The soldier was killed yesterday in the Musa Qala area of southern Afghanistan when a patrol came under attack. Next of kin have been informed.

Brigadier General Richard Blanchette said: "Our deepest sympathies are with the soldier's family and friends as they deal with their loss. This soldier died honourably, helping bring security to Afghanistan."

The soldier was taking part in a joint ISAF and Afghan National Security Forces operation against enemy forces, the Ministry of Defence said.

He received medical treatment at the scene but died from the wounds.
Commander Paula Rowe, spokeswoman for Task Force Helmand, said: "The death of this soldier has left us all deeply saddened.

"Losing a loved one is one of the hardest things to go through, and the thoughts of everyone in Task Force Helmand are with this soldier's family, friends and comrades at this very difficult time."

News that another British solider has been killed in Afghanistan comes on the same day that defence minister Quentin Davies faces fresh criticism over military equipment.

The soldier is the 122nd member of British forces killed in Afghanistan since the start of operations in October 2001.

Tory MP Adam Holloway, a former soldier, told a Commons defence select committee that senior officers were "tearing their hair out" at the lack of suitable equipment.

He said one commander had told him of his frustration this summer at being forced to operate with "Snatch" Land Rovers.

And the senior officer had been forced to ring around Territorial Army units in a hunt for longer-range guns to take to the combat zone, he told the Commons defence select committee, of which he is a member, when it grilled senior MoD civil servants.