COLCHESTER-based soldiers serving in Afghanistan have been visited by defence secretary Des Browne.

Mr Browne was in Kandahar to check out progress made by British troops, including Colchester-based 16 Air Assault Brigade and 23 Engineer Regiment (Air Assault), whose base is in Woodbridge, Suffolk.

During his visit, he went on to Lashkar Gah, Task Force Helmand's headquarters, where he met the Commander of British Forces in Afghanistan, Brigadier Mark Carleton-Smith, who is commander of 16 Air Assault Brigade.

Mr Browne also took the opportunity to talk with soldiers from the 5th Battalion the Royal Regiment of Scotland, 23 Engineer Regiment and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office-led Provisional Reconstruction Team, which is working with Afghan organisations on Helmand reconstruction and development projects.