A Kent army battalion has been badly hit in the latest MoD job cuts announcement.

The 5th Battalion (5 Scots) - The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders - will be reduced to a company, performing public duties.

That would see soldiers relocated and stationed at Edinburgh Castle and at the Palace of Holyroodhouse on a permanent basis.

It's not yet known how many jobs will be lost in the move - and exactly how the Canterbury soldiers will be affected.

While the duties of 5 Scots may change, the soldiers left in Canterbury could include those redeployed from elsewhere.

In short, the future of soldiers in Canterbury is unclear.

Making the announcement in Parliament today, Defence secretary Philip Hammond said: "In making its decision, the Army has focussed on the major recruiting challenges it faces.

"It has also considered the regional and national affiliations of battalions, their disbandment history and their existing committments to military operations."

Mr Hammond added that he hoped soldiers would see the move as "fair and equitable".

It is part of a government announcement that it will shed 20,000 troops from the army.

The Fifth Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland is based in Howe Barracks in the city.

Last year hundreds of soldiers were given a rapturous welcome home after serving in the Helmand Province of Afghanistan.

Deployed as part of Operation HERRICK 13, they trained members of the Afghan National Army and police while three companies supported security operations across the province.

Troops came into regular contact with Taliban insurgents during co-ordinated assaults.