Shot soldier 'unlawfully killed'

L/Cpl Paul Sandford was shot while on a patrol

A British soldier who died in an ambush while on patrol in Afghanistan in June was unlawfully killed, a Nottinghamshire coroner has ruled.

Lance Corporal Paul Sandford, 23, from Nottingham was trying to protect his colleagues when he was wounded in the neck by enemy fire.

The Nottingham soldier had been married for less than a year.

He was flown by helicopter to Camp Bastion for medical treatment but was pronounced dead on arrival at the camp.

Lance Corporal Sandford had served with the 1st Battalion of the Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters in Northern Ireland, Kenya, Belize and Canada.

A Ministry of Defence spokesman said he had already been selected for promotion was "an exceptional fighting man".

The MoD said he was shot while on patrol with his company in the Upper Gereshk Valley area of Helmand Province clearing a Taleban compound.