British soldier dies in Afghanistan

Next of kin have been informed, a spokeswoman said.

A spokesman from Nato's International Security Assistance Force said earlier that a coalition soldier died "during an engagement with enemy fighters" in the region.

Nato's regional commander Major General Jacko Page said: "Our thoughts are with the family, friends and colleagues of the soldier who died. This tragic loss will be felt right across the multi-national taskforce."

The MoD later said that the dead soldier had been a member of the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards.

He was killed by small arms fire after coming under attack while manning a general-purpose machine-gun at a checkpoint near the town of Garmsir in Helmand Province.

He was the first British serviceman to die in Afghanistan this month.

An MoD spokeswoman said the dead soldier had been a member of Number 3 Company of the Grenadier Guards which is responsible for protecting Patrol Base Delhi and local security in the immediate area.

The checkpoint came under attack early on Thursday morning from a force of between eight and 10 Taliban fighters.

"The Grenadiers returned fire with small arms and during the ensuing gun battle, the soldier, who was manning a general purpose machine gun, sustained a gunshot wound," the spokeswoman said. "As the fire fight intensified, with the Taliban using rocket-propelled grenades as well as small arms, ISAF forces called in support from British artillery."