DARING Royal Marines deployed to Afghanistan from Norton Fitzwarren have made important inroads into Taliban territory.

Under the command of 40 Commando, from Norton Manor Camp, British troops in Helmand Province, southern Afghanistan have pushed into the Taliban's heartland.

The Marines have been using their manoeuvrability and multi-terrain specialism to overcome difficult enemy terrain.

They have enabled the Scots Guards to position themselves in the area of Musa Qaleh to carry out anti-Taliban patrols.

The operation was planned and executed by 40 Commando Commanding Officer Lieut Col Stuart Birrell.

He said: "It gave us the opportunity to demonstrate early within our deployment the Royal Marines can and will operate anywhere in Northern Helmand.

"It's been tough to get the vehicles in position.

"Without 40 Commando, the move north would have been impossible.

"Our vehicles, the Vikings, are designed for the difficult terrain we encountered and our expertise is second to none.

"This is what we trained for and I'm really pleased with the way the Royal Marines conducted themselves throughout."

*For more details of the anti-Taliban operation involving 40 Commando, see this Thursday's Somerset County Gazette.