THE first British woman to be killed in Afghanistan is among four soldiers who died in an explosion in the troubled country.

THE first British woman to be killed in Afghanistan is among four soldiers who died in an explosion in the troubled country.

The troops were killed when their vehicle was caught in an explosion as they took part in an operation east of Lashkar Gah in Helmand Province yesterday afternoon.

Three of the soldiers died in the blast, while the fourth was pronounced dead on arrival at Camp Bastion.

It is believed that the woman was a member of the Army's Intelligence Corps.

A fifth soldier wounded in the attack is said to be in a stable condition.

The tragedy means that nine British troops have been killed in Afghanistan in nine days after five soldiers from Colchester-based 2 Para lost their lives last week.

It is not thought that any of the four killed yesterday were from the Colchester unit.