Three Belgian soldiers have been airlifted to hospital suffering from exhaustion and other injuries while on exercise in the Outer Hebrides.

The two women and a man were among about 100 Belgian troops taking part in war games with UK personnel in South Uist.

The Uists are home to Europe's biggest missile test range.

But the trio hit problems on the remote Uisinis Peninsula and used a satellite phone to raise the alarm at around 9.30am yesterday.

One had a dislocated ankle and the other two were found to be suffering from exhaustion.

They had been taking part in a ­military exercise that runs until Wednesday - but is believed not to involve live firing.

They were taken by Stornoway Coastguard search-and-rescue ­helicopter to Western Isles Hospital in Stornoway.

A spokeswoman for the coastguard said they were discharged after treatment and were returning to South Uist.