THE former commander of the British Forces in Afghanistan says it would be a “big mistake” to allow women to serve on the front line.

Defence Secretary Michael Fallon has said he hopes women will be allowed to serve in British Army infantry and armoured units for the first tim from 2016.

A Government report published on Friday found close combat roles should be opened to women for the first time.

But Richard Kemp, who attended Colchester Royal Grammar School before joining the Army, said: “It I think it would be a very bad decision.

“It would be a very bad move. Mixing gender will undermine the cohesion of the unit.”

The report refutes Mr Kemp’s argument, saying allowing women into frontline units would have no “adverse effect” on troop cohesion.

He added: “Men and women are very different, physically and emotionally.

“They work together in so many areas, but in a frontline unit of eight to ten people, if there were perhaps one to three women, you are likely to create a clique.

“In the same way, if there is one woman in a unit of ten, she would in my view be isloated.”

Mr Kemp also pointed out very few women would be able to pass gruelling strength and conditioning tests.

Indeed no women have ever passed the P Company exam - a gruelling seven-test event - in order to become a paratrooper, the most highly skilled of which are based at Colchester Garrison.

In response, Mr Fallon has ordered an 18-month review of Army training to make sure the change can be made without damaging female soldiers' health.

But Mr Kemp argued any drop in training standards would have a direct impact on combat effectiveness, not just because women would be involved but because more men who are not currently meeting the high standards would be allowed in.

Mr Fallon said: "Roles in our Armed Forces should be determined by ability not gender.

“I hope that, following further work on our training regimes and equipment, we can open up combat roles to women in 2016.”