Colchester soldiers parachute over France

Members of 16 Air Assault Brigade on exercise in France Credit: MoD

More than 350 troops from the Colchester based 16 Air Assault Brigade have been taking part in an airborne exercise in the Normandy region of France.

An RAF C130 Hercules dropped 50 British andFrench paratroopers onto fields near Mont St Michel.

St Michel is considered the patron saint of paratroopers and the island monastery was the perfect backdrop for an airborne celebration ahead of his feast day on the 29th September.

A member of 16 Air Assault Brigade lands in Normandy Credit: MoD