TROOPS from the Worcestershire & Sherwood Foresters Regiment will be leaving their base in Chester to spend six months in war torn Afghanistan tomorrow.

Five hundred soldiers in the First Battalion of the Woofers have spent the last six months in training for the tour of duty which will see them assisting with the rebuilding of a national army and people's government in the South Asian country.

Half of the regiment is due to be based in the capital city Kabul, patrolling the streets, securing the area from terrorist attacks and providing a national support element, while the other half will be in the northern provinces of Mazar-e-Sharif and Maymaneh.

There they will be forming reconstruction teams, meeting provincial warlords and government members and ensuring compliance with new laws.

Capt Chris Cook, of the First Battalion, told the Evening News that the feeling among the troops set to fly out to Afghanistan was one of excitement.

"The youngest soldiers we have going out there are 18 and some will never have been away for so long, but everyone is very enthusiastic and looking forward to a radical change of atmosphere."

Capt Cook said Afghanistan was "prehistoric" and "inhospitable" but said troops had been through extensive warfare training in Kenya which included mine awareness as well as cultural and language education.

The troops will begin flying out tomorrow and will have taken command by Sunday, October 3. They are due home in April 2005.