A soldier from a Folkestone-based regiment killed in Afghanistan has been named.

Rifleman Suraj Gurung, from the 1st Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles was killed by a suicide bomber.

The 22-year-old's colleagues described him as a "cracking soldier" who was brave, courageous and compassionate.

The member of the 1st Battalion, the Royal Gurkha Rifles, died in an explosion on Saturday afternoon in Helmand Province.

He was on patrol in the Nahr-E Saraj district.

Spokesman for Task Force Helmand, Lieutenant Colonel David Eastman, said:"It is with a deep sense of regret that I must confirm the death of a soldier from 1st Battalion the Royal Gurkha Rifles yesterday afternoon.

"The soldier was patrolling within the Nahr-e Saraj District of Helmand Province, as part of the on-going mission to protect and reassure the local population, when he was struck by an explosion.

"He has made the ultimate sacrifice while steadfastly fulfilling his duty protecting others. His loss will be greatly felt by all who knew him; he will not be forgotten."

Mr Gurung, who had just got married, was on his first operational tour.

A statement from his family said: "Our family is devastated with the news of Suraj's death in Afghanistan on 2 October 2010.

"He was a very caring son and loving husband. He followed his forefather's footsteps as both his grand father and father served with the British in India: and his father-in-law served in the British Army.

"He loved the army and was very proud to be a Gurkha: and died doing a job he loved. His family members are very proud of him."

Lieutenant Colonel G M Strickland MBE, Commanding Officer, 1st Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles, Combined Forces Nahr-e Saraj South said:

"Throughout this tour, he led the way through areas of high Improvised Explosive Device risk with fortitude and courage. Never once did he complain or shy away from his duty, despite the fact that his team had suffered a partial detonation of one device and found several others during their time in Afghanistan.

"It is telling that when we trawled the battalion for photographs of Suraj, the ones that came forward showed him with his arms around groups of grinning local children. He had a good heart, and was here to help the Afghan people.

"He was a very fine Gurkha soldier; tough but compassionate, and always there for others. To all around him he was a source of strength. His ready smile is now gone from us, but his memory remains. We mourn his passing, and share in the grief of his family who have lost a very special man. I am intensely proud to have served with him."

A total of 339 British troops have died since of operations in the country in 2001.