The Ministry of Defence has apologised to 38 Warrant Officers after they were told they were sacked by e-mail. One of them is believed to have been in Afghanistan when he received the e-mail.

It said they were "victims of the defence cuts" and should "start planning for their retirement". All were senior soldiers who had served for at least 22 years.

Jim Murphy, shadow defence secretary, reacts to the e-mails.

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