MPs FROM across Gloucestershire are united in backing the UK mission in Afghanistan as county troops prepare to be sent there in the spring.

It comes as the senior British commander in Afghanistan warned that the international coalition faced a "tough fight" in the coming year as it sought to consolidate and extend the "progress" that had been made.

Lieutenant General James Bucknall said while important security gains had been made in the course of 2010, they were not yet irreversible.

Soldiers from Beachley-based 1st Battalion The Rifles will deploy to Afghanistan in April, 2011, as part of a 9,500-strong British force.

Troops from the Allied Rapid Reaction Force based at Imjin Barracks, in Innsworth, will also be heading to the country in February.

Tory MP for Gloucester Richard Graham said: "Everyone in Gloucestershire is very aware of the continued commitment, determination, and heroism of the armed forces either based in the county or elsewhere, who are in some cases going back for their third or fourth tour in this very difficult country."

He added: "We have inherited the situation we have, and it's all about trying to make Afghanistan a country which is not a massive international terrorist training base – that's the mission.

"It's absolutely right the Prime Minister says we will start withdrawing as soon as possible next year and by 2015 we will have no operational forces left in Afghanistan."

Tory MP for the Forest of Dean Mark Harper said: "Our mission in Afghanistan is about Britain's national security and it's about making sure the Afghan national army is able to provide both external and internal security.

"Our troops, including the 1st Battalion The Rifles when they deploy again next spring, will be working closely with the Afghan National Army and make sure they are in a position to protect their own country come 2015 when British troops are no longer in combat rules."

Conservative MP for Tewkesbury Laurence Robertson said: "It's obviously been a very long mission and it's not over yet.

"America and Britain have been targeted by Al Qaida which the governments believe are operating from Afghanistan, which is why we are there.

"I pay tribute to the work people out there have done, we owe them a massive debt of gratitude.

"Then last thing we want for people who have given their lives for us, is just to throw it all away when progress is being made."

Tory MP for Stroud Neil Carmichael said: "We support our armed forces properly out there and I think the coalition has taken several steps to demonstrate it's committed to doing just that.

"We need a proper strategy that includes finding a political solution to the situation in Afghanistan. That must be one of our top priorities."