A NORTH-EAST soldier is the latest British serviceman to die in southern Afghanistan.

Sergeant Barry Keen, 34, from Rowlands Gill, Gateshead, was killed in a rocket attack on a compound near the village of Mirmandab, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said.

His death brings the number of British military fatalities in the country, since the start of operations in November 2001, to 67.

Sgt Keen, of 245 Signal Squadron, 14 Signals Regiment, Royal Corps of Signals, was reorganising with his team in a secured area, after acting in support of the Afghan National Army, when a mortar round landed next to him.

He was serving as a communications specialist attached to Battle Group (South), which is deployed on Operation Chakush, fighting the Taliban in the Upper Geresk Valley, in Helmand Province.

The operation was in its fourth day of fierce fighting.

Sgt Keen had spent nearly 18 years in the Army, having joined in August 1989. His career included tours in Bosnia and Northern Ireland.

Lieutenant Dave Phillips, his troop commander, said: "Sgt Keen was the epitome of a Royal Signals senior non-commissioned officer.

"An inspirational figure within the troop, he was widely respected and well liked by all.

"The soldiers he worked with looked up to him and would willingly deploy alongside him.

"As his troop commander, I relied upon his knowledge and experience on an almost daily basis. Not once did he let me down.

"Sgt Keen will be missed by all those that knew him, not only as a tradesman and a soldier, but as a friend."

Sgt Keen was on a six-month tour of Afghanistan.