All 4,500 British troops stationed in Afghanistan have been forced to return home to the UK following the publication of their names on a US website, the Ministry of Defence has admitted.

The withdrawal is expected to be completed within the next 48 hours. Speaking outside the Ministry of Defence on Tuesday, Chief of the General Staff Sir Rafe Jock-Harrier told the media that the revelation that British service personnel were fighting on the front line had posed an "unacceptable risk" and had forced their withdrawal.

The move follows the withdrawal of Prince Harry at the weekend following a similar revelation. Military chiefs are tonight said to be exploring the possibility that the publication of names is a Taliban tactic designed to force Britain out of Afghanistan.

"We have said all along that Prince Harry would be given the same treatment as every other member of the Armed forces. As such, we have had to withdraw 4,500 British troops from Afghanistan following the disclosure of those soldiers' names in the foreign media".