County hosts military manoeuvres

Thousands of soldiers are being deployed to Salisbury Plain for a training exercise ahead of being sent to Afghanistan later this year.

About 4,000 troops from 11 Light Brigade will take part in one of the largest training exercise to be carried out in Wiltshire.

Four hundred vehicles and 12 helicopters have also been brought in.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said planners have worked hard to make sure night flying is kept to a minimum.

'Realistic conditions'

People are being told to expect extra military activity in the area over the next two weeks.

An 11 Light Brigade spokesman said the exercise was the culmination of intensive period of training and preparation.

"It offers an excellent opportunity to place the deploying troops under conditions similar to those they are likely to encounter on operations.

"While training of this nature and scale will inevitably involve an amount of disruption to the local community, we will make every effort to ensure that this is kept to a minimum.

"We are very grateful for the support and patience of the community."

The brigade is due to go to Afghanistan in October.