BRITISH SOLDIER KILLED IN ACTION

The servicemen, who has not been named, was shot during an operation to clear a Taliban compound in the Upper Gereshk Valley in Helmand Province, southern Afghanistan, early on Wednesday morning.

He was a member of the 1st Battalion The Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters.

Next of kin have been informed.

He was the 59th member of the British Forces to die in Afghanistan since the start of operations in November 2001.

A second Nato soldier, whose nationality has not been disclosed although not British, was also killed in a separate action in southern Afghanistan on Wednesday.

The Ministry of Defence said the UK soldier was killed at around 6.45am local time (3.15am BST).

He had been taking part in a patrol with his company targeting the Taliban in the valley, around five miles from the town of Gereshk.

A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: "The company was moving forward to clear a Taliban compound when they came under fire and the soldier was shot."

He was taken to Nato base before being airlifted to Britain's Camp Bastion for medical treatment but was pronounced dead on arrival.