A soldier has been shot dead in Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defence has said.

The member of the 2nd Battalion, the Mercian Regiment, was killed when his patrol was attacked by insurgents in the Nahr-e Saraj district of Helmand Province.

During the attack, he suffered a fatal gunshot wound, the MoD said. His family have been told.

Task Force Helmand spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Gordon Mackenzie said: "The death of this brave soldier is a tragedy which has affected us all.

"His loss will be deeply felt by his family, friends and loved ones, and our thoughts and prayers are with them at this very difficult time."

The soldier's death takes the number of British troops who have died since operations in Afghanistan began in 2001 to 384.

The previous fatal incident involving a British soldier also happened in the Nahr-e Saraj region.

Rifleman Vijay Rai, from the 2nd Battalion, died after the checkpoint he was guarding was attacked with small arms fire last month.