Seventy-six extra troops from Bicester were preparing to head out to the Balkans this week as the build-up in the region continued, writes Paul Warner.

The soldiers from the 23rd Pioneer Regiment, based at St David's Barracks, outside Bicester, are due to fly out tomorrow or Friday.

They will join 26 soldiers from the Pioneers already based along the Macedonia border with Kosovo and helping with the refugee crisis. The main role of the fully-trained soldiers, who have specific skills in carpentry, bricklaying, plumbing and JCB driving, will be to provide tent accommodation for the thousands of Nato troops deployed there.

The troops will also be on escort duty aboard trains from Greece to Macedonia, which is the quickest way artillery, armoured trucks and ammunition can be sent from the ports to the border region. Maj Richard Nicholl, who will be in charge of 187 Squadron, said the Pioneers were vital in providing the basic infrastructure for soldiers in the field.

He said: "They will basically move on to a green field site and construct tented areas for 1,000 men each.

"If you look at the number of troops involved, it is very important that adequate facilities like sleeping quarters, kitchens and latrines are provided for."

Story date: Wednesday 21 April

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