Army reservists from Brighton competed in a battle of the battalions competition.

For two days and nights the 3rd Battalion the Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment, based in Dyke Road, showed off their skills in the coveted Battalion Patrols Competition in Folkestone.

Lance Corporal Luke Garner, 26, an electrician from Saltdean, has been a member for four years and recently returned from a training exercise in Kenya.

He said: “This weekend was all about me sharpening up my skills.

“Being in the Army Reserve means I’m now able to get the best of both worlds and soldiering as an infant-ryman is what I really wanted to do.

“I love the challenge and the camaraderie – spending time with my friends and I’d love to be able to put it all into practice one day and go on tour to Afghanistan.

“I’m definitely more determined now and don’t give up easily.”

L Cpl Garner wanted to join the regular army but instead took over his father's business.

He added: “I’m hoping to do a defence instructional techniques teaching qualification and want to keep on striving for promotion.”

The Brighton-based reservists lost out in the competition to 3rd Battalion soldiers from HQ Company, from Canterbury and D Company from Portsmouth.

During the exercise, Mr Julian Brazier, MP for Canterbury and ex-soldier, visited the competitors.

After watching one of the Section Attacks, he said: “I was struck by how much fitter soldiers are today than when I was a soldier more than 30 years ago and was amazed at the speed they were going up steep hills with heavy kit.

“This Army Reserve unit represents a good cross-section of the best of the South East of England from bankers and butchers to electricians.”