BY day they are plumbers, electricians, police officers and students, but for the next two weeks a group of 25 local men will be training troops in Malawi on a peacekeeping mission.

The group of reservists from the 7th Battalion the Rifles, based in Abingdon, have been selected for a British Army deployment to Africa to train the Malawian Defence Force to support UN operations across the continent.

The band of brothers, most of whom live near to the Edward Brooks Barracks in Abingdon, will also share their skills and knowledge in building, engineering, surveying, policing and personal training with civilians as they take on community engagement projects.

Captain Paul Franklin said: "For this group in Abingdon to be able to do British Army work in training foreign forces is a really positive thing.

"It was very popular and the lads are all really enthusiastic and can't wait to get started.

"The Malawian forces we are working with may be required on a UN peacekeeping operation in the Congo and we will hopefully train them up to the standard needed if they were to de deployed.

Fifty men signed up for the expedition and following training exercises and medical tests were whittled down to the 25 who will fly out this morning from Heathrow Airport leaving their day jobs behind for two weeks.

The Chartered Surveyor from Milton Keynes said: "Employers have been very good with us to be honest, and we have a great group from a mix of professions and backgrounds.

"There are police officers, students, physiotherapists, a charity events manager and a range of different ranks."

Lance corporals and sergeants on the trip will train the troops while senior officers such as captains will work to refine the Malawians' tactics and strategy.

PhD student and Lance Corporal Alex Oates, who has previously served with the 7 Rifles in Afghanistan, said the group were looking forward to the experience.

He said: "It's a real mix. We have professional people on quite high salaries, students both undergraduate and postgraduate, plumbers and electricians.

"We all lead normal lives. I'm leaving my fiancee behind for two weeks, but we have this great opportunity.

"Everyone's excited and it's going to be a really interesting experience."

The 30-year-old will be involved in training, aided by a small group of regular soldiers from 3 Rifles based in Edinburgh.

Mr Oates, who lives in Bicester with fiancee Steph Tranter, said: "It's going to be a challenge, they may have different ways of doing things but hopefully we can teach them some things and also learn things from them.

"Britain has a history with Malawi as it is a Commonwealth country, so there will be some similarities, and I think it will work really well."