A SOLDIER from a Colchester regiment killed in Afghanistan has been identified.

Private John Howard, from 3rd Battalion The Parachute Regiment, was killed in Afghanistan on Sunday, December 5.

He was serving with 16 Air Assault Brigade's Reconnaissance Force on a patrol near Laskah Gah when he was fatally wounded in a suspected friendly fire incident.

The 23-year-old from New Zealand joined the regiment in 2007 and was on his second tour of Afghanistan.

See the full story and tributes in the Gazette on Wednesday.