Shropshire soldiers in Olympics operation

Shropshire soldiers are to take part in the Olympics – but they won't be getting any golds.

They are to be part of the massive security operation surrounding the London games, with an unlikely mission – to secure and protect the volleyball tournament.

The troops are in the 2nd Battalion The Rifles which includes many Shropshire soldiers and, as descendant of the King's Shropshire Light Infantry, lays claim to be Shropshire's county regiment.

News of the deployment was revealed last night in a presentation at Copthorne Barracks, Shrewsbury, by soldiers recently returned from a tour of Afghanistan.

Captain Giles Hursey told the audience that they would be involved in the Olympics.

"We will be providing security for volleyball. We will try to stay out of the news headlines for that one," he said.