Soldiers in Colchester are stocking up on extra kit in readiness a conflict in Iraq.
Shops with specialist Army departments have reported an increase in sales of kit to soldiers.
Outdoors in Short Wyre Street has sold 20 sleeping bags at £125 designed to withstand cold weather and pack down into small spaces.
Stocking up - Simon Deacon shows some of the military clothing available at Troopers, Colchester
Other best sellers at the moment include dry bags to protect kit from getting soaked and cold weather jackets, which sell at about £90.
Soldiers are also buying survival kits and torches with coloured lenses.
An MoD spokesman said kit issued by the Army is rigorously tested to ensure it is up to the job.
He said: "We are satisfied that our forces have the right kit to do the job."
But he added soldiers have had a tradition of supplementing their kit.
Joolz St Cyr, assistant manager of Outdoors, said: "We are stocking up at the moment. We have sold a lot, mainly to Paras."
Soldiers stocked up before heading off for Afghanistan last January and traditionally buy extra kit before heading off on exercise.
Troopers in Military Road has also reported a surge in sales.
Manager Trevor Robins said: "We get a lot of younger guys who come in and are getting lot of bits and pieces. A lot of them are after desert gear."
Published Tuesday, January 21, 2003
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