5,000 UK soldiers unfit to fight on frontline

SOME 5,000 UK soldiers and officers are unfit to fight on the frontline, figures obtained by the Conservatives revealed.

By The Newsroom

Published 12th Jan 2010, 09:32 BST

Updated 12th Jan 2010, 10:35 BST

They are unable to deploy for combat duties because of physical or mental injury or illness, a lack of fitness, or non-medical reasons, according to the Ministry of Defence data.

The MoD said some could still work with medical support.