Army
100 Troops Injured At Otterburn Training Ground
Newly-released figures have revealed that 119 Armed Forces personnel have been injured at the MoD's Otterburn Training facility in the past year.
In addition one soldier, Private Conor McPherson of the Royal Regiment of Scotland, also died after suffering a serious head wound during a night live-firing exercise.
At more than double the previous year's total the Ministry of Defence report casts doubts over the safety of the Northumbria training ground.
In 2011 to 2012 just 18 injuries were recorded, that rose to 58 in 2014 to 2015. A rise the Defence Minister Mark Lancaster MP accounts to better reporting of injuries and an increase in exercises taking place at the site.
The latest figures came as a result of a written question by local MP Anne-Marie Trevelyan. Speaking to the Press Association she said: "Following the tragic death of a soldier during a live firing exercise last month, I was concerned to find out whether we are doing everything possible to ensure the safety of our armed forces when they are training on the Otterburn Ranges."
"I am deeply concerned by the fact that the number of injuries more than doubled last year and I will be calling for a meeting with the Defence Safety Authority to get a better understanding of the reasons for these injuries... I want to know from them what will be done to reverse this worrying trend."
In April the Unite union issued a press release claiming that military training grounds had become 'death traps' following the withdrawal of 'look-out' wardens at some 80 sites in a bid to cut costs - a claim rejected by the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO).
(Picture: H Battery North, 1 Royal Horse Artillery based at Albermarle Station conduct a casualty exercise on Otterburn during Exercise Steel Sabre 2016)
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