THE soldier killed in Afghanistan from the Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment has been named this morning as Sergeant Nigel Coupe.

The 33-year-old was one of six soldiers who were killed in an explosion yesterday, the Ministry of Defence has said.

The other five soldiers were from 3rd Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment.

They are: Corporal Jake Hartley, 20; Private Anthony Frampton, 20; Private Christopher Kershaw, 20; Private Daniel Wade, 20; Private Daniel Wilford, 21.

It is the biggest single loss of UK life at one time in Afghanistan since a Nimrod crash killed 14 in 2006.

A spokesman for the Ministry of Defence said the soldiers were part of a two Warrior patrol when their vehicle was hit.

Prime Minister David Cameron, speaking yesterday, said: “This is a desperately sad day for our country and desperately sad of course for the families concerned. It is a reminder of the huge price that we are paying for the work we are doing in Afghanistan and the sacrifice that our troops have made and continue to make.

“I do believe it’s important work for our national security right here at home but of course this work will increasingly be carried out by Afghan soldiers and we all want to see that transition take place.

“But today we should think of the families.”

The total number of British military deaths in Afghanistan since 2001 is now 404.