Be proud, Cameron tells troops in Afghanistan

David Cameron has paid tribute to British troops fighting in Afghanistan, telling them that they were doing "great work" that would never be forgotten.

The Prime Minister, on his first visit to the country since being elected, told troops at the main British base at Camp Bastion in Helmand that he was determined to support the armed forces.

Addressing troops in the midst of a sandstorm, he said the Government would "rewrite and republish" the military covenant setting out the country's obligations to its fighting men and women.

And there were cheers as he announced that his promised doubling of the operational allowance for troops on operations overseas would go ahead next month, backdated to May 6, the date of the general election.

He was forced to abandon a visit to a patrol base on the front line in Helmand after a warning of a possible attempt by Taliban insurgents to bring down his helicopter.

Mr Cameron read out a message of support from the man he described as "the most important person in England" - national football coach Fabio Capello, who described them as the "real heroes".