A Territorial Army (TA) soldier from Tooting has completed two weeks of ski training at the Army’s Alpine Training Centre in the Bavarian Alps.

Louise Wilkins, 36, joined soldiers from units across the UK and Germany on Exercise Snow Warrior, achieving the Army’s Advanced Ski Proficiency (Alpine) and Ski Tour Proficiency qualifications.

She said: “I had already done some skiing, but the Army’s training and facilities are excellent.”

“As well as Alpine skiing, we were trained in ski touring, which entails going up the mountain on skis before you come down the other side.

“This is because, if you are on operations in the mountains, you obviously need to move around and that won’t always mean travelling downhill.”

Ms Wilkins, who works as a sales executive with BBC Worldwide, is a sergeant with the 831 Troop, 71 Signal Regiment of the Territorial Army, based in Southfields.

Since joining the TA she has visited Austria, France and the Outer Hebrides, as well as taking part in the Remembrance Parade at the Cenotaph, the Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall and the Lord Mayor’s Show.