TRAGEDY has struck a Kidderminster family for the second time in eight months.

Kenneth Laga - the brother of Leon Laga, who was found dead on the steps of Kidderminster Police Station in January - died following a road accident on August 31.

The 22-year-old was serving as a gunner with the 26 Regiment of the Royal Artillery when he and two other soldiers were involved in the accident near Gutersloh in Germany.

Mr Laga used to work as a postman in Kidderminster but joined the regular army last November, transferring from the West Midlands Regiment of the Territorial Army.

He was featured in the Shuttle/Times & News in May, 2004 saying he wanted to join the regulars after completing a six-month tour of duty in Iraq with the TA.

Lieutenant Colonel Stuart Skeates MBE, commanding officer of the German-based regiment Mr Laga was attached to when he died, said the regiment had been "deeply saddened" by the accident and shocked by the death of all three soldiers.

"They were all popular and respected young men with promising careers ahead of them and will be profoundly missed," he said.

"The commanding officer and all ranks of the regiment send their deepest condolences to the family and friends of these three soldiers."

Captain Robin Attwood, permanent staff administrative officer at the Shrubbery TA centre in Kidderminster, where he worked with Ken Laga, described him as a smashing bloke, who was well-respected.

"His death has hit us all hard," he said. "He was a lovely guy, a really smashing bloke and the sort of person you wanted alongside you when the going gets rough.

"He did an operational tour of Iraq with us and did a very good job and had outstanding reports."

"He also had good reports when he joined the regulars and we have no doubt that he would have made an outstanding soldier."