A DURHAM soldier put his skills to the test during a military air exercise.

Air Trooper Jonny Crossley, part of the ground crew for 9 Regiment Army Air Corps (9 AAC), joined a training exercise in Cumbria - the last before the unit disbands and its members take up new roles next year.

About 200 people took part in the exercise, which saw six Lynx Mark 9A air crews fly out of Carlisle Lake District Airport on low-flying reconnaissance missions over Kielder Forest and RAF Spadeadam training area.

AT Crossley, who is based at Dishforth, North Yorkshire, with the light utility helicopter regiment for 16 Air Assault Brigade, said: "On this training exercise we are providing a presence to deter this figurative enemy force and provide support, if needed, for the locals.

"It gives us experience of working as a regiment in the field; all personnel at the same time, and we're working well together because we all know our roles.

"We're living under canvas here in Carlisle and it's been pretty wet, with the temperatures not getting much higher than 10 degrees Celsius but I do enjoy it, it's very fulfilling."

The 20-year-old, who joined the Army three years ago and serves as a ground vehicle driver, said: "I wanted to work with aviation because I thought it would be something a bit different.

"My day-to-day tasks are driving, servicing and repairing vehicles, but I can be looking after the aircraft too."