Ripon-based soldiers in the 21 Engineer Regiment have begun a deployment in Cyprus as part of a United Nations (UN) peacekeeping force.

The soldiers will spend the next six months carrying out patrols on the buffer zone that runs between the Greek and Turkish Cypriots.

The UN force was set up in 1964 to prevent further fighting between the two island communities.

Sappers from the regiment took up their duties on Monday in a ceremony in the country’s capital, Nicosia.

Lieutenant colonel Perry Bishop, commanding officer of 21 Engineer Regiment said:

“Peacekeeping poses some unique challenges that I have not experienced elsewhere in my career.”

“The Regiment’s soldiers understand the importance of this mission, and are eager to put the British Army’s world-leading training to good effect.”

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21 Engineer Regiment has three squadrons based in Ripon.

In recent years, it has seen a significant focus on support to UN peacekeeping operations.

This has included deployments to Cyprus, Somalia, and South Sudan.