NORTON Manor Camp-based Royal Marines are in Oman as part of the largest bilateral exercise the UK has conducted in 17 years.

40 Commando are involved in live firing as part of Saif Sareea - Arabic for Swift Sword - training hard in the desert with mortars, anti-tank missiles, heavy machine guns and snipers.

Training Officer Captain Chris Nutting said: "This has been a fantastic opportunity to hone our skills in a tough, hot and arid environment, giving us different challenges to what we are used to in the UK.

"We have been working alongside the Sultan of Oman’s Armed Forces and enhancing our Commando skillset in these challenging desert conditions."

The remaining members of 40 Commando will embark on RFA Lyme Bay landing ship as part of the Royal Navy’s amphibious task group conducting operations off the coast of Oman, taking the fight from the sea to land.