A soldier, believed to be from Canterbury, has been killed by a mine explosion in Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defence has confirmed.

The soldier, of B Company 5th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland, which is based at the city's Howe Barracks, stepped on the mine while on patrol in Lashkar Gar at 11am local time on Saturday.

An MoD spokesman said he was part of a vehicle checkpoint patrol when it "received a report of a rocket-propelled grenade attack on a civilian aircraft."

He added:"When investigating this they dismounted their vehicles and what is believed to have been a legacy anti-personnel mine detonated, killing the soldier instantly."

The soldier's next of kin have been informed and have requested a period of grace before further details are released.

The battalion's commanding officer Lt Colonel David Richmond was seriously injured earlier this month when he was shot in Helmand province. He is now recovering in hospital in Birmingham.