SOLDIERS thought to be reservists with the SAS have been killed in an explosion in Afghanistan.

Sergeant Sarah Bryant, the first British woman soldier to die in the country, was with four men taking part in a planned operation east of Lashkar Gah in the Helmand Province when their vehicle was caught in the blast.

Three of the men, believed to be with the 23rd SAS Regiment, were killed as well as Sgt Bryant. The fifth soldier is said to be wounded but in a stable condition.

The deaths take the total number of British soldiers killed in Afghanistan since operations began in November 2001 to 106.