Charles urged on army ban

Troops are banned from using artillery on Dartmoor

Prince Charles has been invited to Dartmoor to see the impact of military training.

The Dartmoor Preservation Association (DPA) says it wants to show how the exercises are destroying the moor's unique beauty.

They are urging the prince, who owns large parts of the training ranges, to consider ending the military's licence to exercise.

The Army was strongly criticised last month by conservationists when an exercise left deep tracks across Dartmoor.

Busy diary

John Bainbridge, chief executive of the DPA, said: "It is interesting that, during the Gulf War, the commander of the Royal Marines in the Gulf said that the most valuable training they did was in the Californian desert.

"So I think places like Dartmoor, where they can only do very basic training, are becoming increasingly irrelevant.

"They can't use armour, air support or artillery on Dartmoor. All those things that you need for realistic warfare, you can't do."

The Duchy of Cornwall said the prince had a busy diary and was not scheduled to visit Dartmoor in the immediate future.

The Army said it took every precaution to minimise its impact on the moor.