UK's Brown tries to shore up support for Afghan mission

* UK's Brown seeks to bolster public support for war

* Government rejects criticism of equipment failings

By Adrian Croft

LONDON, July 12 (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Gordon Brown's government tried to shore up public faith in the Afghan war effort on Sunday after the death of eight British soldiers in 24 hours sowed doubts over the mission.

The surge in deaths has led to unprecedented soul-searching in Britain over the point of its intervention in Afghanistan and led to cracks in a political consensus in support of the war.

The number of British troops killed in Afghanistan -- 184 -- now surpasses the British toll from the Iraq conflict.

Brown and his cabinet ministers fanned out to television studios to reassure the public that a major British and U.S. offensive against Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan's southern Helmand province was succeeding despite the heavy toll.