6 July 2010 Last updated at 07:23 ET

British soldier dies in hospital after Afghan blast

The soldier was providing protection for workers clearing a road

A British soldier has died in hospital after being injured in an explosion in Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has said.

The soldier, from 1st Battalion, The Mercian Regiment, was on patrol in the Nahr-e Saraj district of Helmand on Sunday when he was caught in the blast.

He was flown to the UK for treatment, but died on Monday with his family at his side.

The number of UK personnel killed in Afghanistan since 2001 is now 312.

A soldier from the Royal Dragoon Guards was also killed on Monday, in an explosion in Helmand. He was part of a deployment providing protection for contractors building a road.

'Gave his life'

The MoD said the latest casualty had also been providing protection for the clearance of a road in the Upper Gereshk Valley.

He was treated on the ground, and at the UK base at Camp Bastion, before being flown to the UK for further medical care.

But he died the following day, surrounded by his family, at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham.

Commanding officer Maj Ronnie Goodwin said: "He gave his life trying to improve the lives of people in Helmand by providing much-needed reassurance and security.

"He will be missed and remembered by all ranks of 1st Battalion, The Mercian Regiment."