Two British soldiers killed in Afghanistan

Two British soldiers, one from The Queen's Royal Lancers and one from the Royal Engineers have been killed in Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defence said today.

The pair died in an explosion yesterday, during a vehicle patrol in the Lashkar Gah District of Helmand Province.

They were serving as part of Combined Force Lashkar Gah. Next of kin have been informed.

A spokesman for Task Force Helmand, Lieutenant Colonel James Carr-Smith, said: "It is with great sadness I must inform you that a soldier from the Queen's Royal Lancers and a soldier from the Royal Engineers were killed this afternoon west of Lashkar Gah.

"They were attached to the 1st Battalion Scots Guards Battlegroup. The soldiers were part of a ground domination patrol when they were struck by an explosion.

"They will be greatly missed and their sacrifice will not be forgotten. We will remember them."

The number of British losses since the conflict in Afghanistan began in 2001 now stands at 337.