'It could have been him'

Fusilier Tom Power is on a six-month tour of duty in Afghanistan

As the number of UK soldiers killed in Afghanistan reaches nine in nine days, the BBC speaks to the family of one soldier currently on tour in the country.

With one tour of Iraq already behind him, the family of Fusilier Tom Power, from Rossendale, Lancashire, consider him an experienced soldier.

The 20-year-old is halfway through a six-month tour of Afghanistan with 2nd Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers and is looking forward to celebrating his 21st birthday upon his return.

But despite her confidence in her son's ability to look after himself, his mother Diane Power, from Helmshore, admitted: "You are terrified when they first go.

"Tom has been away before, to Iraq, so I think this time it has been ever so slightly easier. But of course when you hear bad news like we've had this week that makes it harder - because it could have been him."

On Friday, the Ministry of Defence revealed that two more UK troops had died in separate attacks in Helmand province, the eighth and ninth soldiers to be killed in July.

You've always got that in the back of your mind, if he gets hurt or something like that Christopher Power, brother

British forces are engaged in a major offensive in Helmand and parents with sons and daughters serving in the country could be forgiven for avoiding news bulletins.

But Mrs Power likes to be kept informed of developments in the region, and revealed the only thing she dreads is the failure of journalists to mention the phrase "next of kin have been informed" in reporting deaths.

"We did have a very nasty situation when he was in Iraq," she told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"A news report came on and they didn't say that phrase, so for about six or seven hours we didn't actually know it wasn't him and that was terrible.

"It is terrifying. The Army is very good and you do have telephone numbers to ring to find out information, but obviously it's not instantaneous."

The number of UK soldiers killed in Afghanistan since 2001 is now 178, with the recent deaths occurring in the south of the country.

Tom keeps in regular touch with his brother, Chris, and mother

But for operational reasons the Fusilier's family do not know exactly where he is, nor do they dwell on the negative aspects of his role and the job he loves.

"You've always got that in the back of your mind, if he gets hurt or something like that," said his brother, Christopher.

"But I've got every confidence in him that he's grown up enough to take care of himself."

His mother added: "He obviously does have worries and he does realise he can be in a very dangerous situation.

"But when they are actually out there he's doing a job, that's how he sees it, and he actually is really enjoying his tour of duty in Afghanistan which makes it easier for us really."

Fusilier Tom Power departed for Afghanistan in April and will not complete his tour until October, but before then he will fly home for a break - something the family are already looking forward to.

"He comes home two days after his 21st birthday... so we're planning a party for that," Mrs Power added.