A disused RAF base in west Wales reopened for a week on Monday for training exercises in the wake of the wider operation in Afghanistan.

Hercules transport aircraft and Chinook helicopters are using the site at RAF Brawdy near Haverfordwest in Pembrokeshire.

Training is important ahead of military campaigns abroad

The operation will enable air crews to get up-to-date training in the use of bare base airfields, similar to the kind of terrain forces might be confronted with in action.

It is the first time the site has been used since it was closed down and RAF operations transferred elsewhere five years ago.

Concerns the training was taking place ahead of any international military action against Iraq have been discounted.

"One of the important lessons we have learnt during the operation in Afghanistan is that we must maintain our skills," said a spokesman for the RAF.

"This week's operation at Brawdy is part of that."

The training operation involving a small team of people is running from Monday to Friday.

Night flying

There will be 10 Hercules movements at Brawdy on each day - most will take place during lunchtime and the early afternoon.

However, there will also be some limited night-time flying training during the first four nights.

There will also be limited night flying - possibly into the early hours - by two Chinook helicopters during the night of Wednesday 21 August.

As well as the flying training, there will be training for mobile air traffic controllers from the Tactical Communications Wing at Brize Norton in Oxfordshire.

Members of the air force fire and ambulance teams at RAF Lynham in Wiltshire will also be taking part.

Brawdy is one of a number of out-of-service airfields around the UK earmarked for this tactical training.

Civilian security guards could be introduced at Pendine

Search-and-rescue services used to operate from the west Wales base before it closed as a live station.

Meanwhile, police have said they are worried at plans to introduce civilian security guards at the Pendine weapons testing base in Carmarthenshire.

The guards would replace armed Ministry of Defence officials at the site where live explosives are stored.

There are warnings that security there could be jeopardised if the changes go-ahead.