First picture of British soldier killed by a roadside bomb as he drove an Afghan ambulance

A British soldier was killed by a suspected roadside bomb in southern Afghanistan as he drove an ambulance back to base, the Ministry of Defence said today.

Corporal Jason Barnes, 25, of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, attached to 2nd Battalion the Parachute Regiment, died on Tuesday.

His commanding officer said he was killed helping others when he could have "taken an easier path" and praised his "commitment and bloody-minded determination".

The latest death takes the total toll to British forces in the country to 111 and comes a month after one of the bloodiest few weeks in the conflict for foreign troops.

A MoD spokesman said the routine patrol had come under fire at around 6pm local time yesterday.

'Whilst returning fire one soldier from 2nd Battalion the Parachute Regiment was injured by a mine,' he said.

'While leaving the scene after suppressing the enemy, a vehicle other soldiers were travelling in hit a suspected improvised explosive device.

'One soldier from 2nd Battalion the Parachute Regiment was injured and one soldier from the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers sustained serious injuries.

'The soldier from the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, despite the best medical efforts at the scene, died a few minutes later.

'All casualties were extracted to Bastion medical facilities where they received medical care. Their injuries are not life threatening.'

International Security Assistance Force spokesman Captain Mike Finney said: 'Our hearts and minds are with the family and loved ones of this fine soldier who died yesterday. This soldier died honourably, helping bring security to Afghanistan.'

Corporal Barnes is the first British fatality in Afghanistan this month after June saw the second highest death toll since operations began in November 2001.

A total of 13 died - the worst loss of life since September 2006 when 19 servicemen were killed - 14 when a Nimrod MR2 aircraft crashed.

June also brought the death of the first British servicewoman in action in the country.

Corporal Sarah Bryant, 26, from Cumbria, died alongside three SAS reservists when their Land Rover was hit by a mine east of Lashkar Gah.

Gordon Brown told the Commons earlier this month that he would not set an 'artificial timetable' for withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan.

But he said Afghan forces would take over 'more and more responsibility' for security as their capability improved.

Mr Brown said Afghanistan was the 'front line against the Taliban' and that since coalition forces had moved into the country, there had been a 25 per cent fall in infant mortality.