AS soldiers burst through the door in to the compound, the Taleban poured down fire on them.

Amid frantic flurries of hand signals and shouted commands, the troops of 36 (Eastern) Signal Squadron worked to pin down and kill their opponents.

Scaling the high walls of the compound to get behind the insurgents won the day, but not before one of the soldiers had been shot.

As they manouvered their injured colleague back to a secure building, they again came under fire in the confused and narrow streets of the village.

It’s a scene played out for real all too frequently in the dust and heat of southern Afghanistan.

But this was greener and damper Norfolk and the Taleban were members of Colchester’s Army Cadet unit, with shemaghs and casual clothing replacing the teenagers’ usual camouflage.

At first 36 (E) Sig Sqn were hesitant and disorganised, but with practice they got quicker and more confident.

For Major Stuart Rowson, the unit’s commander and an accountant when out of uniform, it was valuable training in as realistic an environment as possible.

The Southend resident said: “We will be sending out guys to Afghanistan later in the year.

“How many and what they’ll be doing depends on what the Army needs.

“It’s no use training for different situations than they will face on operations. This place gives an introduction to how things are done in Afghanistan.

“It’s hard work going in and out of compounds with lots of drills to pick up to do it properly.”

Lance Corporal Leo Crumpton-Taylor was one of two men from the unit to join Colchester-based 216 Signal Squadron in Afghanistan in 2008.

He said: “This complex is amazingly realistic.

“I can tell the others what I saw and did and it makes sense to them here, when it might not if we were training in British-style houses.”

The 32-year-old is a plasterer and lives in Colchester’s New Town with his fiancee Jess.

He said: “I’ve always had an interest in the military and I’m fit and into sports.

“I thought I’d give the TA a crack while I was still young enough and have found it really suits me.

“I volunteered to go and got a very rounded experience in Afghanistan. The regular guys treated me really well, just like one of their own. I do want to do another operational tour, but not yet, it’s just too soon.”

In the coming months, the call will come from Colchester Garrison outlining what gaps in the ranks need to be plugged with reservists before 16 Air Assault Brigade heads back to Afghanistan in the autumn.

Maj Rowson said: “Ideally, we’ll be able to give reasonable warning and preparation, but occasionally the call comes at very short notice.

“Those that are in a position to be able to deploy can stick their hands up and go.”

For more information about 36 (Eastern) Signal Squadron, which is based at Colchester’s TA depot on Circular Road South, contact 01206 816614.