THE deaths of more British soldiers in Afghanistan within hours of each other has again brought home the extreme dangers faced by our brave troops.

A total of 184 British soldiers have now died in Afghanistan since 2001, including 15 this month.

In the midst of such sadness, it is important to remember why our troops were sent to Afghanistan in the first place: to trample on the roots of terrorism; to make the world safer.

Having begun that mission, it would be wrong to abandon it now. Not just because terrorism would be allowed to flourish, but because a job half done would be shamefully disrespectful to those who have laid down their lives so far.

But if we are to ask our soldiers to fight on in Afghanistan, we must ensure they have the utmost support.

There must be no more inquests in which coroners are compelled to conclude that inadequate equipment contributed to deaths.

The dangers of serving in a war zone will never be eliminated.

Soldiers know that and so do their loved ones.

But if military experts say more helicopters are needed to limit those dangers, then the British Government must supply them.

Ministers have pledged that they will do everything possible to ensure troops have the resources needed to do the job being asked of them.

That must not be an empty promise.

There must be a redoubling of the Government’s efforts to make sure British soldiers are not dying because of financial constraints.

We salute them all for their courage and hope for the earliest possible conclusion to their difficult task.