Royal Marines have been training in South East Cornwall.

SA80 rifles in hand, the men of Bravo Company, 40 Commando, swarmed ashore from offshore raiding craft at Cawsand Beach.

The men were just some of the roughly 700 Royal Marines involved in Exercise South-West Sword, a week-long workout for the green berets and the Royal Navy's flagship, HMS Bulwark, in Plymouth Sound.

The exercise comes as the Royal Marines prepare to celebrate the corps' 350th birthday this year and was a demonstration of 40 Commando returning to their amphibious roots.

The men of 40 Commando, based at Norton Manor Camp near Taunton, have most recently been in action in Somerset, helping out with the flood relief efforts in communities inundated during the winter storms.

In May, they will take over as the UK's Lead Commando Group – the Royal Marines on call to respond to world events, should the Government require an instant military reaction.

Their transport for such an action would be Bulwark and also the UK's Response Force Task Group.

But before they can deploy, they must understand the fundamentals of amphibious warfare and South-West Sword provided the necessary training.

Major Chris Payne said: 'The exercise was an important warm-up for the next stage of the unit's training ahead of assuming the on-call role.

'The commandos came ashore by air and sea, as 40 Commando's headquarters staff choreographed everything from Bulwark's operations and planning room.'