British army forces have lost 53 personnel in Iraq

The soldier, from the Royal Regiment of Wales, died on Thursday morning, becoming the 53rd member of the UK armed forces to be killed in Iraq.

An army spokesman confirmed the unnamed soldier died in the Basra following a road traffic accident.

"There are no indications of hostile action and no other person or people were hurt.

"We are unable to comment further until the soldier's next of kin have been informed," he said.

On Tuesday the MoD announced that a Royal Marine had died during a coalition operation in the country.

The marine, Corporal Ian Plank, 31, of Poole in Dorset, was killed by hostile fire on 31 October.