£6m bill for soldiers injured by cold weather

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The Ministry of Defence said today it regretted any physical suffering caused by the condition - similar to the infamous First World War "trench foot" - and would pay out where liable.

The total claim is expected to be at least £5million.

Lawyers for the soldiers, many from warmer Commonwealth countries who are more susceptible, said failures of equipment and training were to blame for cases of Non-Freezing Cold Injury.

It can lead to life-long sensitivity to the cold and chronic pain.

Solicitor Simon Harrington said: "These types of injury are entirely avoidable. Kit was sub-standard, training was sub-standard and supervision afforded to soldiers and recruits in particular was sub-standard."

There had been "fantastic" improvement in training after the claims, he said, but there were still changes needed across the whole of the Army.

One soldier from Nigeria who was discharged with NFCI said he contracted it on winter exercises in Wales and now has constantly sore feet and fingernails which drop off. "Your feet are stuck in your boots," he said. "They are swollen and your fingers feel stiffer to move. I was told, 'Soldier on and stop being a wimp'." He said the Home Office had refused him a visa to return to the UK for the medical examination he needs to receive £150,000 in compensation.