COUNTY dogs are working to keep British troops in Afghanistan safe by sniffing out explosives.

Springer spaniel Freddy, who is based at RAF Waddington, searches up to 40 vehicles a day at the British base at Camp Bastion to find evidence of bombs.

He has made several finds, including a Taliban anti-personnel mine that could have killed and maimed British soldiers.

There is also a group of attack dogs, which protect the base and bring down intruders. They are trained to incapacitate.

RAF Police Corporal Adam Casey, 25, also from Waddington, works on the Bastion gates monitoring the people who pass on to the base.

He said: "The dogs are very important to the safety of the camp. They can find any explosive component of an IED and anything that's touched something to do with explosives."

IN YOUR ECHO: Reporter Philippa Stewart, in Afghanistan, speaks with the dog handlers about their role.