GORDON BROWN last night promised to press ahead with the mission in Afghanistan, despite the death toll of British troops passing 200.

Five more deaths were confirmed yesterday, hours after the Ministry of Defence announced two soldiers from the North-East and North Yorkshire were among three killed in a bomb blast on Thursday.

Rifleman Daniel Wild, 19, of Easington Colliery, County Durham, Lance Bombardier Matthew Hatton, 23, from Haxby, near York, and Captain Mark Hale, 42, of Bournemouth died after they were were caught up in a Taliban trap involving consecutive bomb blasts last week.

The latest deaths take the British toll this month to 13, and the total number of personnel lost since operations began in October 2001 to 204.

The Prime Minister said news of the grim milestone was “deeply tragic”.

“In these moments of sorrow and sadness, we must never forget why we are in Afghanistan and why people are making the sacrifice that they are making,” he said.

“Three-quarters of the terrorist plots that hit Britain derive from the mountain areas of Pakistan and Afghanistan and it is to make Britain safe and the rest of the world safe that we must make sure we honour our commitment to maintain a stable Afghanistan.”

Amid controversy over equipment levels for UK forces, Mr Brown also stressed that the Government would provide support.

“I want everybody to know today that every effort that we make is to ensure the best security and the best equipment for our troops,” he said.

Lance Bombardier Hatton, of 40th Regiment Royal Artillery, was wounded in the initial attack in Sangin, Helmand province, on Thursday.

Rfn Wild and Capt Hale, both from 2nd Battalion The Rifles, were carrying him to a helicopter landing zone when there was a second explosion.

Rfn Wild and Lance Bombardier Hatton died at the scene.

Capt Hale died of his injuries in hospital.

All three were members of a foot patrol that was part of an operation intended to provide security for a meeting of elders, ahead of the forthcoming presidential elections.

Lieutenant Colonel Rob Thomson, commanding officer of 2 Rifles Battle Group, paid tribute to Rfn Wild.

He said: “He has given his life for his comrades, for our nation and for the people of Afghanistan.”

Lance Bombardier Hatton was one of the Army’s most promising recruits, according to an officer who worked with him.

Major Matt Rimmer said: “He was one of my rising stars, a real talent for the future.”

In separate incidents a soldier from 2nd Battalion The Royal Welsh, died on Saturday at a military hospital, in Selly Oak, Birmingham. His vehicle was hit by a roadside bomb near Musa Qaleh in Helmand province on Thursday.

The other serviceman, from 2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, died after an explosion while on foot patrol near Sangin, in Helmand province, on Saturday.

Three soldiers from the 2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers died yesterday morning after they were attacked while on patrol near Sangin.

Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth said yesterday: “This is a difficult time but we must all take solace from the fact that, although sometimes slow, we have been making good progress in Afghanistan.”

Shadow Defence Secretary Liam Fox said: “There is no more stark reminder of the bravery and sacrifice of British troops in Helmand.”

Colonel Richard Kemp, who commanded British forces in Afghanistan between 2003 and 2004, said 200 was an important milestone that could sow seeds of doubt in the minds of the British public.

He said: “It’s a very significant milestone, it’s very tragic, that we should have lost this number of soldiers in Afghanistan.”

However, he insisted the campaign was fulfilling a valuable role in defending the UK from a terrorist attack.