A Maidstone-born soldier has been killed in a suspected friendly fire incident in Afghanistan.

Lance Cpl Michael David Pritchard of the 4th Regiment, Royal Military Police, was killed in Afghanistan on December 20.

He was killed as a result of small arms fire in the Sangin area, in central Helmand Province.

2nd Lieutenant Tom Foulkes-Arnold, Platoon Commander, 3 Platoon, said: "Pritch has spent a good deal of time with 3 Platoon through Pre Deployment Training to the Upper Sangin Valley. As such he was an obvious choice to join us as we set up a new patrol base.

"He showed a fantastic ability to blend in with the Platoon and from day one he was not simply "an Attachment". Pritch was utterly professional in all aspects of his work and was an excellent embodiment of both a Royal Military Policeman and a Rifleman."