MILITARY police have been put through their paces on a demanding test of their soldiering skills.

Colchester was the setting for the Southern Cross Challenge, a march and shoot competition contested by six teams of eight soldiers from 1 Military Police Brigade units.

The troops, wearing full battle rig, had to take on an obstacle course as well as a five mile march in Friday Woods, a military knowledge test and a shoot on Middlewick Ranges.

Aldershot-based 4th Regiment Royal Military Police emerged victorious at the end of the gruelling day of competition.

The event was hosted by the Military Provost Staff Regiment which runs the Military Corrective Training Centre in Colchester to provide corrective training for servicemen and women sentenced to periods of detention.

Military Provost Staff Regiment Commanding Officer Lieutenant Colonel Gary McDade said: “The Southern Cross Challenge is an annual event for 1 MP Brigade to bring us together for a physically and mentally demanding test of our soldiering skills.

“The brigade operates on the ‘soldier first’ mantra, with our specialist skills as policemen or custodians coming a close second.

"This competition reminds us of what being a soldier is about and the skills that we all need to have."