A KENT soldier killed this week in Helmand Province in Afghanistan has been named by the Ministry of Defence.

He was Lance Corporal Ivano Violino, a member of 20 Field Squadron, who came from West Malling, near Maidstone.

The married father of two children served with the Maidstone-based 36 Engineer Regiment.

He died on Monday when the army truck he was travelling in was hit by an explosion while taking part in a routine logistics convoy.

L/Cpl Violino leaves a widow, Katey, and eight-year-old twins, Ellie and Lewis, from a previous relationship. He was known to his friends as Sean.

He joined the Army in January 2002. He had previously served in Kuwait before being promoted to Lance Corporal in October 2004. He came originally from Salford.

Another soldier was injured in the blast which occurred just after 3.30pm local time, 19 kilometres north-east of the town of Gereshk.

A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: "Two soldiers were injured in the blast, one very seriously.

"An emergency response helicopter was requested and flew them to the ISAF medical facility at Camp Bastion. Sadly, the very seriously injured soldier was pronounced dead on arrival. The injuries sustained by the second soldier are not life threatening."

Some 320 soldiers from the 36 Engineer Regiment left Maidstone's Invicta Barracks for Afghanistan at the beginning of September.

They have formed part of the 5,500 strong 52 Infantry Brigade, tasked with helping the fragile Afghan government increase stability and working in tandem with the local population with rebuilding the country’s shattered infrastructure.