Updated

Three Danish soldiers have been injured in Afghanistan's southern Helmand province when their car was hit by an improvised explosive device placed in another vehicle.

The Danish army says the soldiers were airlifted by a helicopter to a nearby field hospital after Thursday's blast.

The army did not say how seriously the soldiers were injured, but said they had been able to call relatives.

Denmark's military force is gradually pulling out of combat operations, planning to leave 300 soldiers to train Afghan forces.

More than 40 Danish soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan since the Scandinavian country began contributing soldiers to the NATO force.