A British soldier died on Tuesday after an attack in southern Afghanistan, the first such death for more than two months, the Ministry of Defence in London said.

The soldier from 1st Battalion The Mercian Regiment was injured by enemy action in the Nad-e Ali area of Helmand Province on Monday and flown to hospital, but he succumbed to his wounds.

A total of 441 British military personnel have died while serving in Afghanistan since US-led operations began there in October 2001, 398 of whom died as a result of hostile action.

In December, Prime Minister David Cameron said Britain would withdraw 3,800 of the country's 9,000 troops from Afghanistan this year, as NATO prepares for a full security handover to Afghan forces at the end of next year.