A Scottish solider has died during a gruelling Army training day in the Brecon Beacons in Wales. 

Josh Hoole, from Dumfries, who was a soldier with The Rifles regiment, died on Tuesday during pre-course training for the Platoon Sergeants' Battle Course on the hottest day of the year. 

Ambulances were called to Dering Lines infantry training centre on Tuesday morning but paramedics were unable to save him. 

The 26-year-old corporal from Ecclefechan, near Lockerbie, had served two tours of Afghanistan. 

It is understood a cause of death has not been established however a suspected heat injury has not been ruled out. 

The young soldier was due to marry fiancee Rachael McKie later this year. 

His grandfather, John Craig, said: "He was a beautiful grandson.

"He was a dedicated soldier. He always wanted to be top dog. He was a superfit boy, he kept very fit."

His stepmother Carol Jeffreys, paid tribute to him online and wrote: "Rest easy soldier. My beautiful stepson. Can't believe it. Will always love you. So very proud of you."

Corporal Hoole's brother Tyrone is also a soldier.

A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: 'We can confirm that a soldier from ITC Catterick died on 19 July while conducting pre-course training for the Platoon Sergeants' Battle Course in Brecon.' 

The Met Office said temperatures were 25C in the morning and soared to 30C later in the day. 

Three years ago three soliders died of heat exhaustion on the same Welsh mountains during a training day.