SEVEN Dover-based soldiers serving in Southern Iraq were injured in an attack today.

The incident was one of two in Amara, close to the border with Iran, reportedly the most serious involving UK troops since the end of the war.

Six soldiers were killed in the other incident. It has not been confirmed which regiment they are from.

The troops were on patrol near Amara on the River Tigris, 125 miles north of Basra, in the southern oilfields region. They went to the Gulf in February and were expected to start returning on June 30. One unconfirmed report says a helicopter was ambushed.

Kent Army spokesman Paul Beard this afternoon confirmed that seven of the injured soldiers were from 1 Parachute Regiment based at Connaught Barracks in Dover.