Britain's remaining troops in Afghanistan will now be commanded by an American general.

Britain's command of military operations in Helmand Province has been handed over in the latest step in the UK drawdown from Afghanistan.

In a milestone for British involvement in the conflict, UK troops in Helmand will come under the command of an American general, as British-led Task Force Helmand comes to an end and British forces left in Afghanistan become part of the US-led Regional Command.

It is the latest in a series of steps marking Britain's withdrawal of combat troops from Afghanistan - due to be completed by the end of this year.

Last month the British Government announced the closure or handover of three frontline bases in Helmand, leaving just one outside Camp Bastion.

Some 448 British forces personnel have died in Afghanistan since the start of operations in October 2001.

The number of British personnel in Helmand has reduced from a peak of more than 10,000 to around half that number as Afghan National Security Forces have taken the lead across Afghanistan.