The public are risking their lives by walking on Army firing ranges whilst troops are practising their shooting skills.

The Commandant of the East Anglian Training Areas Major (retired) Harry Waller said the public are ignoring warning signs and red flags which are flown at Middlewick Ranges, off Mersea Road, when training is going on.

He said the troops fire 350,000 to 400,000 rounds of live ammunition from the ranges every year and people walking their dogs, motor cyclists, horse riders and children are risking death or serious injury by ignoring the signs.

Although there is a public footpath red flags are flown to warn people not to venture on the 2km sq ranges during firing which takes place during the week and some weekends. And vandals have pulled down some perimeter fences.

Major Waller said the range of gunfire means a bullet fired from one end of the range, which has been used since the Boer War, could kill someone walking at the other end.

But he said: "There's less than a one in a million chance of being shot. But we want to avoid anyone being hurt."

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