Army riot training exercise

Volunteer part-time soldiers from across the Midlands begin their final preparation for work as UN peacekeepers in Cyprus. ITV News Central has spent today with them, here is the full report.

The 4th Batallion, Mercian Regiment were taking part in a riot training exercise today, dealing with crowds wielding weapons and petrol bombs and it is all in preparation ahead of a UN peace-keeping mission to Cyprus.

Soldiers from The 4th Batallion, the Mercian Regiment are taking part in a public order training exercise today in Shropshire.

It's ahead of their deployment to Cyprus.

During the exercise 90 troops will be dealing with crowds wielding batons and throwing petrol bombs.

4 Mercian is an army reserve unit and will soon be sending 58 soldiers to Cyprus to take part in a UN peacekeeping mission in the country.

They will fly out at the end of March and return in October.

4 Mercian has troops from TA centres across the Midlands including Birmingham, Mansfield, Stoke, Burton and Kidderminster and Wolverhampton.