A KENT-based soldier who died in a road accident while serving in Afghanistan has been identified by the Ministry of Defence. He was Lance Corporal Jake Alderton.

The soldier from Maidstone's 36 Engineer Regiment was killed when the vehicle he was travelling in left the road and rolled off a bridge on Friday.

Another soldier and an interpreter were also hurt, but their injuries are not life threatening.

The accident happened as the soldiers were taking part in an operation in support of the Afghan National Army near the district centre of Sangin in Helmand Province just before 4am local time.

Immediate medical assistance was provided, but L/Cpl Alderton was declared dead at the scene. There were no enemy forces involved.

Neither L/Cpl Alderton's address nor age have yet been released by the Ministry of Defence.

This is the second loss that the 36 Engineers have had since being deployed to Helmand Province in September.

Shortly after they arrived in the area Cpl Ivano "Sean" Violino was killed when the vehicle in which he was travelling was caught in an explosion, 19km north east of the town of Gereshk, Helmand Province.