Family and friends of troops in Oxfordshire's Territorial Army unit 7 Rifles have backed the decision to pull Prince Harry out of Afghanistan.

The Ministry of Defence announced today that the prince would be taken out of the unstable Helmand Province after international news organisations ended a media blackout on reporting that he was in the country.

Julie Hobley, whose son Dan is serving with the Rifles in Musa Qala in the south of the country, believes the Royal serviceman would have made troops more of a target.

Mrs Hobley, from Witney, said: "I think it is wise to take him out, he was putting people's lives at risk by being there. He made the people around him vulnerable.

"I know he wanted to be out there fighting for his country, but it is not worth risking people's lives.

"When I heard the news it made me very worried, not just for Daniel, but for all of the soldiers out there.

"I have heard some people saying they do not know what the fuss is about, but it is different when you have got a family member out there and as a mother it is natural to think 'what are the risks?'"

The 23-year-old Household Cavalry officer had been secretly fighting the Taliban as a battlefield air controller and Spartan light tank commander for the past 10 weeks.

He is the first member of the Royal Family to see action on the frontline since his uncle, Prince Andrew, was involved in the Falklands conflict in 1982.

Kevin Alford, whose son Carl, 23, is also serving in Musa Qala, was shocked to hear the prince was serving in Afghanistan.

Mr Alford, from Headington, said: "I think he is an extremely brave lad - if I am honest I did not think he would go. But I am 100 per cent behind the decision for him to come home.

"He would be a target and anyone fighting alongside him would be a target.

"Could you imagine what a morale boost it would be for the Taliban if he was captured?"

Alan Richards, a close friend and work colleague of Rifleman Lloyd Nolan Crockford, 30, who is serving in Helmand, also backed the move.

Mr Richards, who lives in Kennington, said: "Pull him out now before his presence puts anyone in danger."