LONDON: A British soldier has been killed by small arms fire while on patrol in Afghanistan, the defence ministry said on Sunday.

The soldier, from 3rd Battalion, The Yorkshire Regiment, was working in the south of Nahr-e Saraj district in Helmand Province when he came under attack.

His next of kin have been informed.

Spokesman for British Forces Helmand, Lieutenant Colonel John Kerner, said the soldier's death “will be felt by everyone across Task Force Helmand and our thoughts are with his family and friends at this difficult time.”

The soldier is the 417th British serviceperson to die since the military mission in Afghanistan started in 2001.

Britain has some 9,500 troops in Afghanistan, mainly based in Helmand where they are battling a Taliban insurgency. Britain intends to pull out all its combat troops by 2015.