A reporter from the Evening Herald has flown to Afghanistan to report on marines and commandos from the Plymouth area fighting on the frontline.

Defence reporter James Garnett is believed to be the first writer from the English regional press to fly out.

He has travelled with picture editor Pete Holdgate, who served with some of the senior officers currently in Bagram when he was a marine in the Falklands conflict 20 years ago.

The pair had asked to be included in a regional press trip scheduled for late May, but managed to travel out much earlier after the paper made repeated requests.

They arrived on Tuesday night after Plymouth Commandos completed their first combat mission in the battle to flush out al Qaeda and Taliban fighters.

The troops were flown back to Bagram air base where they will spend at least three days resting and gaining intelligence before heading out on further missions.

James and Pete are following the fortunes of fighters from the city's Stonehouse-based 3 Commando Brigade Patrol Troop and Citadel-based 29 Commando Royal Artillery.

James (left) said: "More than half of the 1,700-strong British force committed to the operation, including hundreds from Plymouth, are now in position in Afghanistan, with the full force expected to arrive by the end of the month.

"We have time in the next two days with British troops here at Bagram, including 29.

"Also interviews with 45, so we will try to find Plymouth troops to interview. There is good potential for colour pieces too - conditions here and the terrain are just incredible.

"There is a clampdown on what we can report but good good human interest story potential."

He has reported how the Plymouth commandos have used explosives to blow up the caves, while 29 Commando regiment had fired artillery shells at the entrances of hide-outs.

In abandoned caves recently occupied by the enemy, the commandos found the bodies of terrorists alongside ammunition, radios and documents which will be used to gather intelligence.

British troops are serving alongside American forces and Afghan military on their first mission, Operation Ptarmigan.

Read about Pete's Falklands campaign.

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