EXMOOR rangers shifted 80 tonnes of crushed stone along a two kilometre route in challenging weather – with a little help from the Commando Helicopter Force (CHF).

Two Merlin MK3 helicopters were flown in by trainee pilots and aircrew from CHF’s 846 Naval Air Squadron and Mobile Air Operations Team (MAOT).

They faced challenging weather as they shifted the stone along a stretch of the Tarka Trail which had become badly eroded.

It was part of a training exercise which forms the final stage before the pilots and aircrew get their ‘wings’ and are signed off as fully operational pilots ready for frontline duties.

The work is expected to continue this month, weather permitting.

For the full story, see Friday’s Free Press (October 4).