At least 20 soldiers injured after three troop carriers crash during training exercise on Salisbury Plain

At least 20 soldiers have been wounded – with up to five left with life-changing injuries – after three Army vehicles collided during a training exercise.

The incident happened at around 6.30pm last night in a training area at Westdown Camp, near Larkhill in Wiltshire.

Two men had to be freed from the wreckage, and a number of the casualties were airlifted to hospital. Two were described as having 'life threatening' injuries.

The crash occurred during a joint exercise on Salisbury Plain with the Indian armed forces, it was reported last night, and many of the casualties are believed to be Indian, according to Sky News.  

Eight with serious injuries were taken by road to Salisbury District Hospital, while 'a number' of 'walking wounded' were treated at the scene, according to South Western Ambulance Service. 

The gender and ages of those injured are not yet known, but a number are understood to be soldiers. 

Three Air Ambulances, several land ambulances and a hazardous area response team - trained to deal with specialist circumstances, including multi-casualty collisions - were dispatched to the scene. 

A number of rapid response vehicles and volunteer doctors from the BASICS scheme also attended, a spokeswoman for South Western Ambulance Service said.

She said: 'We have taken two patients with life threatening injuries, and flown them to Southampton.

'One went with Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance, and the other with Wiltshire Air Ambulance. We have taken eight patients with serious injures by road ambulance to Salisbury Hospital.

'We have treated a number of walking wounded.'

A Wiltshire Police spokesman said: 'We received a call from the air ambulance at 6.30pm who told us they were attending.

'First responders and three military ambulances were also at the location. 

'We had reports of four to five people with life changing injuries and approximately 16 others 'walking wounded'.

'The road traffic collision happened on a by-way which cuts through The Plain, hence why we were called.

'It is still regarded as a Wiltshire Police matter as it's on a by-way, although it's off the main road.' 

An Army spokesperson said: 'We can confirm that there has been a road traffic collision in the Salisbury Plain training area in which it is understood there are a number of casualties. 

'The British Army is supporting Wiltshire Police and South West Ambulance Service with their response to the incident which will be duly investigated.' 

Salisbury Plain is often used for huge military exercises. In March, more than 1,650 troops took part in a ‘war zone’ exercise which saw hundreds of military vehicles, Apache helicopters and tanks surging across the plain.

The three-week rapid response operation was aiming to test the brigade’s ability to deploy at short notice.

The drills involved 1,650 troops, most of which came from the 12th Armoured Infantry Brigade.