The serviceman, from 1st Battalion the Grenadier Guards, died after coming under attack from Taliban forces in the town of Garmsir, Helmand Province.

The next of kin of the soldiers involved have been informed, the MoD said.

The soldier was killed while taking part in an operation on Friday night to clear a Taliban-occupied compound on the outskirts of Garmsir.

The British forces successfully engaged and destroyed a Taliban stronghold using artillery, mortars and small arms fire.

While clearing the enemy's positions, there was an explosion at around midnight which caused five casualties. Those injured were rescued under Taliban fire and met by a medical team, which pronounced one soldier dead at the scene.

The dead soldier and the three most seriously injured casualties were airlifted to Camp Bastion by helicopter. The fifth casualty received only very minor injuries, and the remaining members of the patrol returned safely to base.

The soldier's death brings the toll of fatalities among British Forces personnel in Afghanistan since the start of operations in November 2001 to 55.

Of these, 33 were killed in action - including two who died as a result of injuries sustained in action - while 22 are known to have died either as a result of illness, non-combat injuries or accidents.

It is the second fatality this month, following the death of Guardsman Simon Davison, of 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards, who was killed on May 3 after coming under attack at a checkpoint near Garmsir.