STUDENTS have redeveloped a training complex at Lympstone’s Royal Marine Commando Training Centre.

It is hoped the work will enable it to become a first-rate facility for training exercises ahead of deployments to Afghanistan.

The centre has been redeveloped thanks to the work of students at South Devon College’s construction and heritage department.

Major Chris Hall MBE, based at Lympstone, said: “The students have actually managed to turn the current good complex into an outstanding one, with a plethora of very realistic training options.

“It will make our marines much better prepared for actual service, especially in Afghanistan. I would like to thank South Devon College for agreeing to undertake this project and for the trainees for doing such a fantastic and worthwhile job.

“Hopefully this is the start of a long and mutually beneficial relationship between CTCRM (Commando Training Centre Royal Marines) and South Devon College.”

Major Hall invited the college’s construction department in to take a look at part of its training complex which was in need of significant refurbishment.

The building itself was a huge factory unit, containing block walls over six foot high designed to simulate rooms to help prepare marines for clearance and evacuation drills in combat. There is also a large gantry area overlooking the walls where instructors can view the training sessions from above.

They had been using cardboard boxes to imitate furniture and fake walls in order to keep the ‘Modernised Urban Combat Facility’ realistic.

Sergeant Nick Olive, spent the most time with the group of Level two and three students from South Devon College, and was very impressed with their attitude.

“The lads were extremely professional and it was good to see the work ethic they brought into the camp.

“They performed any task given to them straight away with ease and professionalism, and worked together well to achieve a fantastic and impressive outcome.

“A job like this would have taken months for us to sort out and for these young lads to come in and finish it in four days, without any complaints at all, is just inspiring. They should be very proud of themselves.”