The soldiers were from 1st Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles based at Shorncliffe

Two Kent-based soldiers have been shot dead in Afghanistan today.

The Ministry of Defence said the pair were from 1st Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles, based Shorncliffe, near Folkestone.

They and were killed by a man wearing an Afghan police uniform at a checkpoint in Helmand province.

The soldiers' families have been informed.

Major Laurence Roche said: "I am saddened to report the deaths of two soldiers from 1st Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles who were shot and killed by a man wearing Afghan Police uniform at a checkpoint in the Nahr-e Saraj district of Helmand province.

"The loss of these soldiers is a huge blow to the Royal Gurkha Rifles and everyone serving in Task Force Helmand.

"Our thoughts are with their families, friends and fellow Gurkhas at this time."

The deaths brings the number of British servicemen killed by Afghan soldiers or police to 11 this year, compared to just one in 2011.