Territorial Army soldiers have flown to Afghanistan for a six-month tour of duty.

Three men arrived in Helmand Province yesterday where they will be thrown into front-line duties in the conflict against the Taliban.

They can expect to face a daily threat of makeshift bombs and combat as they carry out regular patrols and protection duties.

Lieutenant Ian Ginns, from Market Harborough, Colour Sergeant Stuart Shaw, from Leicester, and Private Wayne Hayward, from North Kilworth, from C Company, 3rd Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment, form part of a 36-strong platoon who will be attached to the Household Cavalry Regiment.

Five other TA soldiers based at Ulverscroft Road, in Leicester, who do not live in the area, are among those to have been deployed.

Led by Lt Ginns, a 33-year-old chartered surveyor, the platoon will be based in Musa Qaleh.

Their tasks will also include mentoring the Afghan national police.

In the months leading up to deployment, the soldiers were put through a rigorous training programme, including lessons in Afghan culture, exercises under live fire and dealing with improvised explosive devices.

Before they left for the desert-like conditions and scorching daytime temperatures of the middle eastern country, Lt Ginns spoke of his confidence in his colleague Clr Sgt Shaw and the value of the training.

He said: "Stuart and I work extremely well together. We have a strong working relationship – the communication flow is two way.

"In fact, over the last few months Stuart knows what I'm thinking even before I say anything.

"I have an awful lot of responsibility on my shoulders, but with Stuart by my side we can share the tasks. It makes my job that bit easier.

"The training has been excellent.

"Morale is extremely high and the change in the soldiers since they started four months ago is fantastic.

"We are very much one platoon, who work together as one team."

The soldiers follow 29 soldiers from the regiment who deployed to Kabul in August where they are guarding the Headquarters of the International Security Assistance Force.

While in Kabul, their daily tasks include manning the gates of the base and conducting searches, internal security escorts and patrols.

Their deployment comes a week after 24-year-old Marcin Wojtak, from Croxton Kerrial, near Melton, was killed in a Taliban attack near to the British Army's Camp Bastion.

Senior Aircraftsman Wojtak was the 219th Briton killed in the conflict.