NORTON Manor Camp-based Royal Marines have been having a final rehearsal before deploying to Afghanistan next month.

The 650 men and women of 40 Commando have been taking part in Exercise Pashtun Dawn on Salisbury Plain.

The recent heavy rain which has turned much of the exercise area into a quagmire has been a godsend as they are likely to face flooding at the height of the Afghan winter.

Marine Rob Kelly, of Command Company, said they had to hastily prepare rainwater channels to stop their tents from being inundated.

He said: “The weather’s no problem – if it ain’t raining it ain’t training.”

The troops will deploy in stages for their tour of the Nar-e-Saraj district of Central Helmand from September with the final contingent arriving in theatre at the start of October.

They will be working with Afghan National Security Forces to ensure that they are a capable and professional force when the UK ceases combat operations in 2014.

Major Karl Gray, Second in Command of 40 Commando, said: “This is an excellent opportunity for all the force elements forming the 40 Commando RM Battlegroup to train together in a realistic environment.

“The exercise is well resourced, and has served to fine tune our skills and processes at all levels.”