Dozens of soldiers have been injured, some seriously, after three troop carriers collided during a training exercise on Salisbury Plain.

 

 

Wiltshire Police said there had been call at around 6.30pm to the vast area which is partly-owned by the Ministry of Defence to train soldiers for combat operations.

The force said four or five people have been reported as having life-changing injuries and a further 16 were described as "walking wounded".

Three military ambulances are at the location, near Westdown Camp, near the village of Tilshead.

A force spokesman said the crash happened on a by-way which cuts through The Plain.

He said: "The [collision] happened on a by-way which cuts through The Plain, hence why we were called.

"It is still regarded as a Wiltshire Police matter as it's on a by-way, although it's off the main road."

Salisbury Plain is owned by the Ministry of Defence and is the largest military training area in the UK.

It is understood that a two-week joint exercise between the Indian and British armies is currently being conducted at Westdown Camp.

An spokesman for the Army said: "We can confirm that there has been a road traffic collision in the Salisbury Plain training area in which it is understood there are a number of casualties. The British Army is supporting Wiltshire Police and South West Ambulance Service with their response to the incident which will be duly investigated."

The incident occurred hours after the MoD had issued updated safety guidance to the public on the training activities taking place on the Plain.

The newsletter stated that training levels would be "average for this time of year".

It continued: "The last two weeks of June will see the Field Training Unit training 1st Battalion The Rifles using the Army Weapons Effect Simulation system on Exercise WESSEX STORM.

"As a light role infantry unit 1 Rifles will be conducting training mainly on foot and in wheeled vehicles."