Canterbury MP Julian Brazier has visited wartorn Afghanistan.

The former soldier spent time with the Canterbury-based The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders where he met with the regiment’s commanding officer Col Adam Griffiths.

He also visited two of the Forward-Operating Bases held by soldiers of the 2nd and 3rd battalions of the Parachute Regiment, the forces’ hospital in Camp Bastion , the RAF base at Kandahar and US National Guard units in the Kabul area.

After his trip, Mr Brazier said: “I was impressed and humbled by all the encounters I had with our forces. The quality of the people was remarkable.

“Three men had been killed the previous week, yet morale was high and there was a great spirit everywhere and I was very glad to hear from Col Griffiths what a fantastic job the regiment is doing.

“As part of my mission, I was able to see reservists from different branches of the forces including the TA field hospital running the main British hospital.

“It was also very interesting to meet US National Guard from three different units. They are the American equivalent of our Territorial Army.”

The visit was part of a review of UK armed forces.