AN East Lancashire soldier, described as “one of the army’s finest”, has been shot dead in battle in Afghanistan.

Private Jason Rawstron, from Clayton-le-Moors, was killed by a Taliban gunman on Friday morning whilst on duty in Helmand province with 2nd Battalion of the Parachute Regiment.

The 27-year-old was part of a routine patrol operating in the vicinity of Forward Operating Base Gibraltar when they came into contact with enemy forces.

In the ensuing firefight he was shot in the head and killed instantly.

Private Rawstron leaves behind mum Mandy, dad Gary, brother Graham and girlfriend Michaela, to whom he was said to be devoted.

The former Moorhead High School pupil, nicknamed Suspect because of his mischievous nature by army colleagues, joined the army in October 2005.

After completing his training he moved directly to C (Bruneval) Company, 2 PARA where he became a rifleman.

The Ministry of Defence said that he quickly stood out as a soldier of note and within a year of joining the battalion he was put forward for and completed the Battalion Infantry Assault Engineer cadre.

Once qualified as an infantry assault engineer he rejoined C Company and was attached to 7 Platoon during pre deployment training and for his first operational tour in Afghanistan on Operation HERRICK 8.

Pte Rawstron will be honoured with a military funeral and his family will given a medal for his service.

A two-minute silence will be held in memory of the 23-year-old at a Hyndburn Council meeting today and the flag at Accrington Town Hall will fly at half mast as a mark of respect.

An England flag has also been put outside his uncle’s house in Barnes Street which people have signed and paid tributes.

Pte Rawstron’s funeral will be organised once his body is brought back to England.

To read tributes to Private Jason Rawstron, and to post your own, click here.