A British soldier from 33 Engineer Regiment, Royal Engineers, has been killed in an explosion in Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defence has said.



Ninety-seven UK service personnel have died in the Afghanistan conflict this year


The soldier's next of kin have been informed.

He died as a result of an explosion near Gereshk, in Helmand Province, on Sunday afternoon.

The serviceman was part of the Counter-IED Task Force which is responsible for finding home-made bombs.

A spokesman for Task Force Helmand, Lieutenant Colonel David Wakefield, said: "It is my sad duty to confirm to you that a soldier from 33 Engineer Regiment, part of the Counter-IED Task Force, was killed by an explosion near Gereshk, in Helmand Province, during the afternoon of 15 November 2009.

"His courage and the sacrifice made by him in the fight against Improvised Explosive Devices in Helmand will not be forgotten."

His death takes the British death toll in Afghanistan so far this year to 97.

A second British serviceman, from 7th Battalion The Rifles, attached to 3rd Battalion The Rifles Battle Group, died on Sunday morning as a result of small arms fire.

He was killed while on patrol near Sangin in Helmand Province.