THERE have been many comments about the soldiers returning from duties in other parts of the world, about how they will fit in. We have a very diverse Army and they will fit in anywhere.

There will be no lack of work for them to come home too; there has never been a better time for them to return to these shores.

Our farmers need all the help they can get and they are so far behind with planting and such like. I believe they can also help in police matters, these soldiers are trained to deal with people and problems and adverse conditions.

Military medical staff can fill spaces in our hospitals where there is a shortage of doctors and nurses. Perhaps they could help to build more reservoirs to store gluts of water, and deal with great pools of water that lay on roads, especially where there are no street lights.

These lakes on roads can cause terrible accidents if they are not clearly seen.

I believe we need to keep troops trained up and on standby for terrorist attacks.

We’ve all been caught out by flooding, will we be ready for terrorism, I think not? I have no desire to be seen as a racist person, but why keep making the excuse that we need more migrants with skills. Might I ask the question? Who are more skilled than our soldiers?

We need our military personnel more than we’ve ever needed them, to rebuild and help those who have suffered severe flooding. Might I also ask why our troops were not sent in more quickly to help ease the distress of flood victims?

We have so many of our own problems in this country and I have not noticed many nations around the world that put their hands in their pockets to help us out.

I think it’s time to realise that charity begins at home, let’s get our own house in order first. The people that aid is intended for never seem to be any better off, even after years of us ploughing money and aid into these poor places for destitute people.

This is written without prejudice to any nation.

God bless our Queen.

Josie Smith, Hedges Close, Shipton Bellinger