AN Exmouth father - whose son was killed by a roadside bomb in Helmand Province in 2007 - believes his son would still be alive if the UK troops were better equipped.

AN Exmouth father - whose son was killed by a roadside bomb in Helmand Province in 2007 - believes his son would still be alive if the UK troops were better equipped.

In the same week eight bodies of British soldiers killed in Afghanistan were returned to the UK, businessman Ian Sadler, 59, hit out at politicians sending UK troops to fight "under equipped", writes Becca Gliddon.

Mr Sadler's comments have won the backing of East Devon MP Hugo Swire.

Territorial Army Trooper Jack Sadler, of Clyst St George, died on December 4 2007, when his armoured Land Rover hit a landmine in Helmand Province.

This week, his father has called for purpose-built mine-protected vehicles to be supplied to British troops.

READ IAN SADLER'S DIARY >>

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