NI troop levels will fall by 550

The number of soldiers in Northern Ireland is being reduced again

The number of soldiers serving in Northern Ireland will be further reduced in the summer of next year.

The first battalion of the King's Own Scottish Borderers will not be replaced when it ends its tour in August 2006.

The soldiers are currently based at Lisanelly Barracks in Omagh.

The move will reduce troop numbers in Northern Ireland by about 550. There are presently about 11,000 British Army personnel based in the province.

It will reduce the number of Northern Ireland battalions to seven.

Defence Secretary John Reid confirmed the move in a written statement in the House of Commons.

The Ministry of Defence said the Army remained committed to providing the support the PSNI required "to counter the threat from terrorism and to prevent potential public disorder".

It said it would continue to keep force levels in Northern Ireland under regular review.

Last July, the government announced that 900 troops based in Northern Ireland would be moved to other tasks outside the province.

There have been several other cuts since the Good Friday Agreement in 1998, however troop levels are still higher than what was envisaged in a peace-time situation.