SOLDIERS from 2nd Battalion Mercian Regiment (Worcesters and Foresters) have praised an armoured vehicle for helping to keep them safe on their recent tour of southern Afghanistan.

Seventeen soldiers from B Company visited NP Aerospace to watch the Mastiff roll off the production line.

Platoon Commander Phil Godsiff said: "It was a great piece of kit. The Mastiff had several mine strikes but it stood up to it every time. Nobody was injured and the only damage that was done on one occasion was to a wheel and even then it was still driveable. It drove over and up all the terrain that we threw at it. It's also got some pretty big guns on the top cover. In short it's a good piece of kit."

Private Jake Lee, aged 18, said: "You feel very safe when you are inside and it's quite comfortable and air conditioned which gives some welcome relief when you've been patrolling in the heat."

NP Aerospace chief executive Roger Medwell said he was honoured to welcome the soldiers to the factory in Coventry.

"We will do all that we can to ensure the safety of the soldiers," he said. "At every stage of the production process the soldiers are always foremost in our minds. The commitment to their job is remarkable and we in turn are committed to providing the equipment they need to continue their work."

NP Aerospace has delivered 108 Mastiff armoured vehicles to the Ministry of Defence (MOD) since November 2006 and also manufactures the Osprey body armour and helmets worn by soldiers on operations in Afghanistan.

Your Worcester News previously reported how soldiers from 2nd Battalion Mercian Regiment (Worcesters and Foresters) returned home from some of the most intense and aggressive fighting witnessed by the British Army since the war in Afghanistan started in 2001.

Nine soldiers died during the regiment's six-month tour of duty and 20 more were seriously injured.

This newspaper campaigned for our troops to receive a special combat medal to recognise the intensity of the fighting that took place in Helmand province but the Government and MOD has so far declined to do so.