SOLDIERS from Lancashire are learning how to stay alive in the jungle in preparation for some of the most toughest environments in the world.

Six hundred soldiers from 2nd Battalion, Duke of Lancaster's Regiment, will spend five weeks in Belize learning how to survive and fight in a hot, humid climate.

The training is pre-paration for their deploy-ment to Cyprus in the summer and operations elsewhere, most likely Afghanistan.

They are the main force among a larger, 800-strong battle group deployed on Exercise Tropical Storm in Belize and will have to contend with coral snakes, scorpions, puma, crocodiles, and tarantulas in the Yalbac jungle.

Under the guidance of British Army instructors and Belizean military experts, their lessons include finding food and water, making fires and evacuating casualties.

The training is also part of their conversion from an armoured vehicle battalion to a light role' battalion on foot - carrying weapons in complex jungle and desert terrains.

Commanding Officer Lt Col Mark Kenyon, said: "Out here in the jungle, it is hot and humid, with plenty of vegetation.

"We are learning to cope in these conditions and later how to soldier and fight in these conditions."

Kingsman Paul Briggs, 27, from Clitheroe, has served in the Army for about nine months.

The former Ribblesdale High School pupil said: "I have been told to expect to get bitten a lot by mosquitoes and that I will probably lose a lot of weight in the jungle.

"Joining the Army was something I had always wanted to do.

"After high school, I was doing painting and decorating and after that, a couple of other jobs. I was looking for something different.

"Two of my mates had joined the Army and I decided to give it a go as well.

"It was an attraction that I could come to somewhere like Belize and I am looking forward to going to Cyprus."

Kingsman Mark Culshaw, 24, from Darwen, joined the Army 18 months ago.

A former pupil of St Bede's High School, he went to Blackburn College to study for an NVQ in engineering and had several labouring jobs before joining a friend in the Army.

Speaking from the Belize City airport camp, just before heading out to the jungle, Mark, a gunner in 1 Platoon Arnhem Company, said: "We will be patrolling and learning to live and survive in the jungle. I am looking forward to it."

Corporal Jeff Tibbett, 27, from Darwen, is a section commander in 5 Platoon Blenheim Company.

A former pupil of Darwen Moorland High School, has served two tours in Iraq, twice in Northern Ireland and this is his second time in Belize. He has also trained in Canada, Hungary and Cyprus during his Army career.

He said: "I joined the Army because I wanted to see a bit of the world.

"Out here in Belize, it is completely different to back home.

"It hits home that you are out in the jungle when it's complete darkness at night, when you put your hand in front of your face and you can't see it.

"Most people would think that the jungle is quiet, but it isn't quiet at all. Movement here is quite slow, with the heat."

Kingsman Lee Stockdale, 24, from Barnoldswick, is a former slaughterman and then a stage builder who joined the Army one-and-a-half years ago.

"Belize is awesome," he said. "It's not like anything I've done before, but it is freaky, with all the spiders and things."

He added: "I joined the Army because I was looking for the security of the job and the money.

"I finished my training about a month before the battalion came back from Iraq (in June 2007).

"We are now converting to a light role battalion, so Belize gives us a good opportunity to train in that role."