POLICE dogs showed off their skills by hunting down 12 soldiers hidden around Colchester’s Merville Barracks.

A dozen German shepherd dogs from Essex Police ’s dog unit, trained to help find missing people or criminals, were sent to detain soldiers wearing specially padded protective clothing, hidden around the barracks.

Bombadier Mick Hall said: “It was exciting and frightening when I heard the dog coming up behind me.

“I really felt the power when the dog got its jaws around my arm, even through the padding.”

The exercise, called Sphinx Diligence, helped members of 7th Parachute Regiment Royal Horse Artillery develop teamwork and broaden their horizons and skills, beyond their usual artillery role.

The two-week exercise has seen troops practise fighting inside buildings at Fingringhoe Ranges and learning self defence at SD School of Martial Arts in Colchester.