Joe Spencer death at RAF Tain in updated MoD statistics

Joe Spencer, who served with The Rifles, died during training at RAF Tain on 1 November

A soldier's death at an RAF weapons range in the Highlands is included among updated statistics released by the Ministry of Defence (MoD).

L/Cpl Joe Spencer, 24, of the 3rd Battalion The Rifles and from Hampshire, died in an incident involving a firearm at RAF Tain.

Police Scotland is investigating his death on 1 November.

A new MoD report describes his death as a "live firing accident" and that he died at the range waiting point.

The MoD said live firing accident was a term used to describe a wide range of incidents, adding that it did not suggest anything of the cause and the case remains under investigation.

The details were among documents providing updated training and exercise deaths in the UK armed forces statistics.

Between 1 January 2000 and 5 November 2016, 139 UK armed forces personnel died while on training and exercise; 119 were Regular personnel and 20 were on duty reserve personnel.

Thirty detectives from Police Scotland have been involved in investigating L/Cpl Spencer's death at RAF Tain north of Inverness.

RAF Tain is a weapons range north of Inverness

L/Cpl Spencer joined the Army in 2011 and had completed a tour of Afghanistan as part of Operation Herrick 16.

He had also taken part in exercises in Kenya and the US as part of his training.

Shortly after news of his death was reported, a post on The 3 Rifles' Facebook page said: "Our thoughts are with his family, friends and his brother Riflemen."

Hundreds of people paid tribute to L/Cpl Spencer under the post, with many leaving the message "RIP, swift and bold" - the motto of the regiment.

Others described him as a "good soldier and a good lad" in comments left on The Rifles page.

Defence Minister Mark Lancaster said at the time: "It is with deep sadness that I can confirm that Lance Corporal Joe Spencer from 3rd Battalion The Rifles died at RAF Tain on Tuesday.

"My thoughts are with Joe's family, friends and colleagues at this terrible time.

"We are co-operating with the police investigation and looking into the circumstances surrounding this tragic incident."