Tributes paid to dead soldier

Private Chris Gray, 19, from the 1st Battalion, Royal Anglian Regiment, was killed by gunfire during fighting with Taliban forces in southern Afghanistan.

The soldier from Leicester was returning from a routine patrol with other members of his company when a five-man Taliban team was spotted trying to set up an ambush.

A firefight broke out and a larger Taliban force began firing using weapons including mortars, rocket propelled grenades and heavy machine guns, leaving Private Gray fatally wounded.

The 19-year-old was airlifted from the scene by a Chinook to the main British base at Camp Bastion, but he could not be saved and was pronounced dead on arrival.

In a statement, his family said: "He was a much loved and cherished son, grandson and brother, who was proud to serve his country. He will always be missed."

Private Gray's death was the first in over a month and is the 53rd fatality in Afghanistan since operations began in November 2001, 31 of whom were killed in action.

The keen snowboarder who loved the outdoor life was described as a "superlative soldier" and a young man with a "big heart".

He only joined the Army in March last year and trained at the Infantry Training Centre in Catterick before joining the Royal Anglian Regiment in September.

Company Commander, Major Dom Biddick, said: "He was a superlative soldier; passionate about his job; and a man with real leadership potential. 'Grayman', as he was known to his friends, was a young man with a big heart and a calm, generous and immensely trustworthy personality. A close friend to many, Private Gray had an infectious sense of humour and possessed a degree of optimism that many of his more cynical peers found baffling."