Fusilier Dean Griffiths, 21, of 1st Battalion The Royal Welsh

A 21-year-old soldier shot dead on a military firing range in Kent was due to become a father.

Fusilier Dean Griffiths, from 1st Battalion The Royal Welsh, died in an incident on the Lydd Ranges on Wednesday afternoon.

An investigation involving Kent Police, the Army and the Health and Safety Executive has been launched to establish what happened, although the soldier's death is believed to have been an accident.

Fusilier Griffiths' brother Dewi said: "Dean was fun, loving and caring and was so excited at becoming a father.

"He touched the lives of so many and we will all miss our Deano. We ask that we are given time to grieve."

Lt Col Steve Webb, commanding officer of 1st Battalion The Royal Welsh, added: "We are hugely saddened by the death of Fusilier Griffiths.

"Intelligent, fit and skilful he was an outstanding soldier with the potential for a long and very successful career in The Royal Welsh.

"He was also a thoroughly engaging person – popular and with a great sense of humour.

"He will be mourned by his many friends in the battalion and our deepest and most sincere sympathy goes out to his girlfriend and his family at this difficult time."

Fusilier Griffiths, who was from Shropshire but based in Chester, is not the first soldier to die in an incident at Lydd Ranges, a Ministry of Defence training ground just outside the town.

In 2006, Guardsman Ian Wright died from a single gunshot wound to the head after he was shot during a routine training exercise.