British troops are working with the Afghan Army on a new attack on insurgents in southern Afghanistan.

Operation Tor Shezada is a bid to squeeze the Taliban out of central Helmand Province.

Military chiefs say it has got off to a "successful" start in the early hours of Friday.

They're hopeful this will continue the momentum gathered by operation Moshtarak earlier this year.

UK forces are being led by 1st Battalion, The Duke Of Lancaster's Regiment.

Lieutenant Colonel James Carr-Smith, spokesman for Task Force Helmand, said of the operation: "Its aims are very much supported by local Afghans living in and around the area of Sayedebad. They are keen that insurgents be removed so that they can live, work and travel there safely."

Troops are partnering Afghan forces from 3rd Brigade, 215 Corps, to clear insurgents from Sayedebad to the south of Nad-e Ali, in parallel to similar operations by the United States Marine Corps in Northern Marjah, the MoD said. Tor Shezada translates as black prince in English.

Sayedebad sits between Nad-e Ali and Marjah in central Helmand, with a small community of around 6,000 Afghans, mostly from Pashtun Ishaqzai and Hazara backgrounds.

The Trikh Zabur canal runs to the south of the area, with a crossing point which allows movement between Nad-e Ali and Marjah.

Improved security around this important crossing point will increase freedom of movement for locals.

Hundreds of British troops are being deployed in the latest surge.

Moshtarak, involving 15,000 Nato and Afghan troops, was the largest attempt to flush out Taliban fighters since the conflict in Afghanistan began in 2001. Nearly a third of those involved were British personnel.