Six British soldiers were killed when their armoured vehicle was hit by an explosion here in Helmand province on Tuesday.

Today, the Ministry of Defence released the names of the dead.

They are:

Sergeant Nigel Coupe, aged 33; Corporal Jake Hartley, 20; Privates Anthony Frampton, 20; Christopher Kershaw, 20; Daniel Wade, 20; and Daniel Wilford, 21.

Their deaths represent the deadliest single enemy attack on UK forces in Afghanistan since 2001.

Speaking in London on Wednesday, Prime Minister David Cameron re-iterated that the mission in Afghanistan remains vital to national security.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) BRITISH PRIME MINISTER DAVID CAMERON, SAYING:

"Our thoughts are with the families and friends of these brave servicemen. This would be the largest loss of lives in a single incident in Afghanistan since 2006. It takes the overall number of casualties that we have suffered in Afghanistan to over 400. Every death and every injury reminds us of the human cost paid by our Armed Forces to keep our country safe."

Britain has around 9,500 soldiers in Afghanistan, a number due to be reduced in phases as combat operations are ended over the next two years.

Nick Rowlands, Reuters.