Shropshire soldiers building bridges in Afghanistan

Shropshire soldiers have been building bridges in Afghanistan by helping re-open a school and make improvements to infrastructure in Helmand province.

The Royal Irish Regiment, based at Tern Hill, near Market Drayton, was deployed to the country in September to support the allied campaign against the Taliban.

But fighting insurgents has not been the only purpose served by the tour.

Thanks to the efforts of the troops from Clive Barracks, a village school in the Nad-E-Ali district is poised to re-open, boosting education for young children in the country.

Soldiers have also improved irrigation channels on farmland, making life easier for farmers.

Company Commander Major Alistair Harbinson said: "The company has well and truly established itself in the local community. Several development projects are coming to fruition and we have had enormous success in bringing security to the area of Nad-E-Ali South.

"Three new wells have been constructed in the local village, a number of irrigation ditches have been repaired and, above all, it looks like our local school will be re-opening soon.

"A total of 150 children have been enrolled, four new teachers appointed, and classes scheduled to start.

"The opening of the school next week will be a strong statement to the insurgents: the locals no longer fear them."

Military chiefs want soldiers to gain the trust of local people in Afghanistan as part of a two-pronged approach which also involves fighting insurgents, who threaten to undermine stability in local communities.

In preparation for the deployment, the soldiers trained in a mock Afghan village on MoD land in Norfolk.