BBC News - Several British soldiers have been hurt in a suicide attack in Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defence has said.

Witnesses said the bomber threw himself at a Nato vehicle in Lashkar Gah, the capital of Helmand province.

The MoD said there had been no British fatalities, but "a small number" had been injured. A Nato spokesman said three of its troops were injured.

Helmand province has seen increased violence between insurgents and Nato-led and Afghan forces this year.

The explosion took place in the town centre, near the governor's compound.

The MoD said: "We can confirm that a small number of UK soldiers have been injured in an explosion in Lashkar Gah.

"There are no reports of British fatalities."

A spokeswoman later said there were unconfirmed reports that two Afghan children had been killed in the attack and seven local adults were injured.

Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Jaap de Hoop Scheffer - secretary general of Nato - stressed the need for a presence in Afghanistan.

He said: "Do not forget where the country came from.

"We are there to defend our basic values, the basic values which guide UK society, Dutch society, Belgian society. If we fail again, then Afghanistan will come to us. It will be a breeding ground for terrorists again. Do not forget 9/11.

"Do not forget other terrorist attacks. And, being in London now, I do know what it means. Britain has been a victim of this."

The BBC's Alastair Leithead said Lashkar Gah, in the south of Helmand, was generally one of the safest areas in the province.

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