The soldier from the locally-recruited Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment who died in Iraq has been named as Pte Ryan Wrathall.

He was found at Basra's Contingency Operating Base having suffered a gunshot wound from which he died.

The incident, which happened at about 6.30am on Thursday, will be investigated.

The Ministry of Defence says there is no evidence to suggest that anyone else was involved.

Pte Wrathall, 21, was from Surbiton in Surrey and was half way through a six month tour of duty.

His commanding officer Lt Col Charlie Sykes described him as "quiet and reserved at first, but developing in confidence."

He added: "Fit and active, Pte Wrathall proved himself on arduous foot patrols, grafting hard and never complaining, helping others and fully involved in all the chores involved with living far from civilisation."

PWRR, known as The Tigers, has its ceremonial headquarters at Howe Barracks, Canterbury, and a Territorial Army base at the city’s Leros Barracks.

1 PWRR is an armoured infantry battalion, known as the Armoured Tigers.