The soldier from 1st Battalion The Rifles killed in Afghanistan last Monday (23rd May) has been named by the Ministry of Defence as Colour Serjeant Kevin Fortuna.

The soldier, from 'A' Company, was leading a patrol to disrupt enemy forces when he was killed by an improvised explosive device in the Sayedabad Kalay area of the Nahr-e Saraj (South) district of Helmand province.

The battalion is based at Beachley Barracks near Chepstow.

More in next week's Monmouthshire Beacon.