The body of a British Army paratrooper killed in an apparent friendly-fire incident in Afghanistan will be repatriated through Wootton Bassett today.

New Zealander Private John "Jack" Howard died while on patrol in Helmand Province on December 5.

Pte Howard, 23, from the 3rd Battalion The Parachute Regiment, was serving with 16 Air Assault Brigade's Reconnaissance Force on his second tour in Afghanistan.

He was on a patrol six miles south-west of the provincial capital of Helmand Province, Laskar Gah, when he was fatally wounded.

Initial reports suggested he could have been hit by cannon fire from a low-flying US plane, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said.

The MoD has launched a full investigation into the incident, which military experts suggested could have been a case of "misidentification".

Pte Howard's body will be flown into RAF Lyneham and after a private ceremony, the cortege will pass through Wootton Bassett at about 1.15pm.

Pte Howard, from Wellington, leaves behind his parents Roger and Anne, two sisters Charlotte and Isabella, and his girlfriend Sophie.

The "devastated" family said he was "immensely proud to be both a Para and a New Zealander" and was "absolutely passionate about what he was doing".

Their tribute following his death said: "Jack died serving alongside some of the great friends he had made in the Army. He comes from a strong and loving family and we miss him dearly."

The incident was the 11th suspected death by friendly-fire since operations began in Afghanistan, and the third this year, the MoD said.

It is understood the US jet believed to have been responsible for the death was on a "strafing run" and had been called in by British troops involved in a gunfight with insurgents.

Two more servicemen were injured in the attack, sources said.

The incident is also under investigation by the International Security Assistance Force (Isaf).

A total of 346 UK military personnel have died since operations in Afghanistan began in 2001.