A BRITISH soldier was killed at a vehicle checkpoint in southern Afghanistan today, the Ministry of Defence said.

A BRITISH soldier was killed at a vehicle checkpoint in southern Afghanistan today, the Ministry of Defence said.

The serviceman, from 3rd Battalion The Rifles, was the second member of UK forces in two days to be shot dead near Sangin in the north of Helmand Province.

He died after coming under fire this morning while part of a team partnering Afghan soldiers at the checkpoint.

His family have been informed.

A total of 268 British troops have died since military operations in Afghanistan began in 2001.