SOLDIERS are swapping the barracks of Chester for the challenge of Northern Ireland.

By the end of next week there should be more than 400 members of the Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters based in South Armagh.

The seven-month posting will be the most challenging since the battalion left its quarters in Omagh in December 2001.

"They're on leave at the moment, spending five days with friends and families before their departure," said Adjutant Jamie Knowle, of 1WFR.

"We've already got people out there and the majority of the battalion will be there by the end of next week.

"Morale is quite high and they're looking forward to the job.

"We're got a lot of experience in Northern Ireland and South Armagh is the most exciting posting. The families aren't coming out with us because the situation is slightly more hairy than Omagh.

Rotational

"The battalion would have liked to have been in Iraq, but there is still a job to do in Northern Ireland."

The posting is a rotational tour and shared among different Army units. The infantry regiment, known affectionately as the Woofers, will be spending seven-and-a-half-months close to the border with the Republic of Ireland.

They take over from the Parachute Regiment Second Battalion in watching the border and patrolling the area.

All the work is in support of the Police Service of Northern Ireland to prevent terrorism.

"They'll be based overlooking the border with Northern Ireland where there are watchtowers to keep an eye on things," said Major Bob Prophet, who is based at the Regimental Headquarters in Norton, near Worcester.

"It's bandit country out there and these watchtowers have been the subject of talks with the IRA. They want them brought down. These are going to be manned by the Woofers until they do.

"Everything they do there, whether it's patrolling or anything else, is in support of the local police."

The regiment, which is made up of soldiers from Worcestershire, Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire, are due back with their families in December.