Afghan death soldier named

Updated 17.39 Thu Jun 07 2007

Keywords: UK soldier dies Afghanistan

A British soldier killed in action in southern Afghanistan has named by the Ministry of Defence.

Lance Corporal Paul Sandford, a member of the 1st Battalion The Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters, was shot during an operation to clear a Taliban compound in the Upper Gereshk Valley in Helmand Province early on Wednesday morning.

"He was first-class material and he would no doubt have gone on to have a very successful career" - Patrick Mercer

He was taken to an International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) patrol base. From there he was flown by helicopter to Camp Bastion for medical treatment where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

The 23-year-old from London, who married his wife Gaynor just a year ago, is the 59th member of the British Forces to die in Afghanistan since the start of operations in November 2001.

His grandmother Jean Sandford said his family were devastated and are "struggling to come to terms" with his death.

Patrick Mercer, Conservative MP for Newark and a former commanding officer with the Sherwood Foresters, described L/Cpl Sandford as a "first-class" soldier.

He said: "He was a very good lad, a typical Nottingham soldier. He was first-class material and he would no doubt have gone on to have a very successful career.

"His rank showed there were things ahead for him. I am extremely sorry for his family."