AN inquest is to be held next month into the death of Lance Corporal Steven Sherwood, a Herefordshire infantryman who was killed during an ambush in Afghanistan nearly two years ago.

Lance Corporal Sherwood, of the 1st Battalion, The Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Light Infantry, was killed on October 25, 2005.

He had been in the country for just one month before the fatal ambush, which also left five others injured.

He and his colleagues were travelling in a convoy of four-wheel-drive vehicles between bases.

The inquest into the death of the 23-year-old, from Ross-on-Wye, will be held on June 4 at the offices of Gloucester City Council.

Coroner Alan Crickmore will hear a day of evidence from fellow soldiers about the events surrounding the military action and return his verdict.

The 1st Battalion's Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Nick Welch, made a statement about Lance Corporal Gregory after his death.

It said: "Steven Sherwood, known to his mates as Shirley, was a thoroughly professional and dedicated soldier. A highly capable field soldier at the top of his profession, he was a key member of his battalion's close reconnaissance platoon.

"In Afghanistan, he worked as a key member of a tight-knit, experienced and highly professional military observation team. He thrived on the challenges provided by his team's tasks.

"He travelled with his team to parts of Afghanistan that had not previously been patrolled by the multi-national International Security Assistance Force.

"Only the night before he was killed, Lance Corporal Sherwood and his team had assisted at the scene of a traffic accident involving an Afghan National Army patrol and civilian vehicle, where he provided immediate first aid and co-ordinated the extraction of the injured.

"He epitomised all that is excellent about his regiment.

"A keen sportsman, his particular talents lay in skiing and football. Lance Corporal Sherwood was renowned for his character and could always be relied on to lighten a situation with his keen sense of humour.

"He could usually be traced to the scene of an amusing incident, but rarely implicated.

"He will be remembered by all as a good mate who would never leave a friend and could be counted on to cover his buddies' backs, in the finest traditions of his regiment.

"He will be sorely missed by so many of the regiment, who regarded him as a close friend."