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Troops in Helmand enjoy first snow covering in 8 years

Camp Bastion in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, experienced a covering of snow for the first time yesterday. Credit: Sergeant Dan Bardsley(Phot)/MoD/Crown Copyright/PA Wire

British troops in Afghanistan have seen the first proper snowfall in Camp Bastion in eight years, the Ministry of Defence said.

UK servicemen and women took the opportunity to build a snow soldier in the snow. Credit: Sergeant Dan Bardsley(Phot)/MoD/Crown Copyright/PA Wire

There have been small flurries before, but yesterday the snow lay on the ground for the first time.

Snow lies on the ground in Camp Bastion, where 3,000 UK forces are operating. Credit: Sergeant Dan Bardsley(Phot)/MoD/Crown Copyright/PA Wire

The snow came just 72 hours after temperatures were at 21C.

The unusual weather is believed to have been caused by an icy air mass pushing down from the north which met expected wet weather from the south west, creating the extreme conditions.