Up to 20 soldiers injured after three troop carriers crash during training exercise on Salisbury Plain

As many as 20 military personnel have been wounded in a crash involving three troop carriers on Salisbury Plain, police said.

Two sustained 'life threatening injuries' in the collision near Westdown Camp and were taken to Southampton General Hospital for treatment, according to the South Western Ambulance Service.

Eight with serious injuries were taken by road to Salisbury District Hospital, while 'a number' of 'walking wounded' were treated at the scene.

The incident took place during a joint training exercise between the British and Indian military, it has been reported. Many of those involved in the crash are believed to be from the Indian forces.

The gender and ages of those injured are not yet known, but a number are understood to be soldiers.

The collision took place in the training area near Larkhill, Wiltshire, at 6.30pm during a joint military training exercise, according to Sky News. 

Salisbury Plain is owned by the Ministry of Defence and is the largest military training site in Britain. 

Three Air Ambulances, several land ambulances and a hazardous area response team - trained to deal with specialist circumstances, including multi-casualty collisions - were dispatched to the scene. 

A number of rapid response vehicles and volunteer doctors from the BASICS scheme also attended, a spokeswoman for South Western Ambulance Service said.

She said: 'We have taken two patients with life threatening injuries, and flown them to Southampton.

'One went with Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance, and the other with Wiltshire Air Ambulance. We have taken eight patients with serious injures by road ambulance to Salisbury Hospital.

'We have treated a number of walking wounded.'

A Wiltshire Police spokesman said: 'We received a call from the air ambulance at 6.30pm today who told us they were attending. 

'First responders and three military ambulances were also at the location. 

'We had reports of four to five people with life changing injuries and approximately 16 others 'walking wounded'.

'The road traffic collision happened on a by-way which cuts through The Plain, hence why we were called.

'It is still regarded as a Wiltshire Police matter as it's on a by-way, although it's off the main road.' 

An Army spokesperson said: 'We can confirm that there has been a road traffic collision in the Salisbury Plain training area in which it is understood there are a number of casualties. 

'The British Army is supporting Wiltshire Police and South West Ambulance Service with their response to the incident which will be duly investigated.'