A ROYAL Marines reservist from Bury has just returned from an intensive two-week combat and survival skills exercise deep inside the Arctic Circle.

Richard Smith (26) took part in "Hairspring", a mountain and extreme cold weather warfare training exercise in northern Norway.

Currently studying astrophysics at Glasgow University, Richard has been with the reserves for two years.

Last year he joined other part-time Marines who climbed Mount McKinley in Alaska.

During the winter deployment in Norway, novice military skiers learned techniques enabling them to complete ski patrols of up to 25 kilometres per day carrying a full complement of military equipment.

They were taught how to build improvised shelters and completed at least one night in a snow hole. Temperatures can drop to minus 35 degrees centigrade!

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