COLCHESTER'S Paratroopers featured as part of a highlight reel showcasing the most memorable moments of the year for the country's armed forces.

The Ministry of Defence released more than 80 pictures reflecting on the reality of military life in 2019.

One image shows C Company, 3rd Battalion The Parachute Regiment, undertaking crowd control drills in Colchester.

Using shield drills and disciplined lines of troops which can be traced back to the Roman legions, the soldiers practised confronting unruly crowds.

British troops have had to tackle riots on recent operations in Sierra Leone, Kosovo and Iraq.

Another picture captured a fleet of helicopters soaring over Colchester ahead of a training drill.

Paratroopers took up a position before mounting onto Puma helicopters.

They were lifted from a landing zone set up on sports pitches off Berechurch Road, testing 13 Air Assault Support Regiment Royal Logistic Corps on marshalling areas to load helicopters.

The drill, Exercise Decisive Manoeuvre, saw 100 troops transported by three Chinook and three Puma helicopters, escorted by two Army Air Corps Apache attack helicopters.

The troopers landed in Friday Woods, where they practised dismounting in tactical conditions.

Other memorable features of the highlight reel included US President Donald Trump's visit to Buckingham Palace and a 'rocket man' inventor testing a jet-powered body suit over water.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said: “Our armed forces have been at the heart of some of our country’s biggest achievements in 2019.

"To capture their work we have deployed photographers around the globe to give the general public a unique glimpse of life in our armed forces.

"Defence photographers are some of the most valued and highly trained members of our armed forces and I thank them for their service."