A LANDMARK documentary starring Colchester troops will make its screen debut this Thursday.

The Paras: Men of War will be shown on ITV at 9pm.

ITV has branded it a "landmark series" providing an "intimate insight" on the elite Parachute regiment - who are trained to kill.

The 3rd Battalion of the Parachute Regiment, or 3 Para as they are widely known, are based in Colchester,

Producers Avanti Media were granted unprecedented access and spent 12 months filming all aspects of the regiment's world which turns raw recruits into elite soldiers.

Across three one hour episodes, viewers will see young men, many still in their late teenage years, pushed to the extremes of their endurance and learn vital skills - as they give their all to pass through the highly pressurised and often brutally demanding recruitment stage and be accepted into the regiment.

Throughout the series officers and new recruits will talk openly about their experiences both in training and in combat.

It is the first time since the early 1980s that the regiment, which is part of 16 Air Assault Brigade, has opened its doors to a network broadcaster.