A soldier from Coventry killed in an explosion in Afghanistan has been named by the Ministry of Defence.

Sapper Guy Mellors, 20, a bomb disposal expert from 36 Engineer Regiment, died on Monday.

His mother Linda Holland said the family was "proud of Sapper Mellors", adding: "He will always be our hero, he lived his dream."

Sapper Mellors was the second dead British soldier to be named on Monday by the MoD.

Earlier a soldier killed by suspected friendly fire on Sunday was identified as Kingsman Sean Dawson, from 2nd Battalion, The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment.

An MoD spokesman said Sapper Mellors was trained as a searcher in a Royal Engineers advanced search team responsible for the detection of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in areas deemed high risk.

On Monday, Counter-IED Team, of which he was a part, was operating in Battle Group (North) near Forward Operating Base Ezaray in support of A Company, 3 Rifles.

"During the operation Sapper Mellors himself became subject to a contact explosion and was sadly killed," said the spokesman.

The spokesman said Sapper Mellors, a keen rugby player, was an experienced and highly regarded searcher and a fit and enthusiastic soldier.

He leaves behind his mother Linda, stepfather William and his two younger sisters Lana, 13, and Kia, six.

Lieutenant Colonel Gareth Bex, Commanding Officer, Counter IED Task Force, said: "Sapper Mellors was an impressive young man and an outstanding searcher.

"Fearless and determined, he was a great team player, well loved and respected by his comrades."

He added: "The courage and resolve men like him show every day in ridding Afghanistan of the threat from IEDs is humbling.

"Although it is a tragedy to lose such a fine soldier, it is a comfort knowing that through his efforts many lives were saved, and that his efforts are recognised in Helmand and back home in the UK."

Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth said: "I was deeply saddened to hear about the death of Sapper Guy Mellors.

"He was killed whilst operating as an important member of the Counter-IED Team which was bringing safety to both the local Afghan population and to his fellow ISAF (International Security Assistance Force) and Afghan comrades."

The MoD said an investigation has been launched into the death of Kingsman Dawson, amid suggestions he could have been the victim of "friendly fire".

The 19-year-old died in the Musa Qala area of Helmand Province on Sunday evening.

The teenager, from Stalybridge, Manchester, was deployed to Afghanistan on January 16 after passing a course to become a sniper. He was killed while taking part in an ambush of suspected militants near Patrol Base Minden in the north of Helmand.

In a statement, the MoD said: "Early indications suggest that his death was possibly caused as a result of 'friendly fire'."

The MoD said no further comment would be made ahead of an inquest.

Neither death was connected to the ongoing Operation Moshtarak to drive the Taliban out of a stronghold around Marjah and Nad-e-Ali in Helmand. A total of 261 British service personnel have died since the start of operations in Afghanistan in 2001.