TWO Warminster based soldiers, killed when their 70-ton Challenger tank overturned on Salisbury Plain, died accidentally, an inquest heard.

Second Lieutenant Paul Syred, 25, and operator-loader Corporal Michael Paterson, 28, married and living at Pepper Close, died during a battle training exercise in July last year.

Lieutenant Syred, from Cumbria, died from multiple traumatic injuries and Corporal Paterson from traumatic head injuries. Both were in the turrets of the tank when it toppled over the edge of a track near the army's battle village of Imber, crushing both men.

Announcing the verdicts at Salisbury Crown Court on Tuesday, the jury called for changes in training programmes for drivers and tank commanders and that consideration be given to the mix of experienced and inexperienced tank crews. They asked Wiltshire Coroner David Masters to make the recommendations, including increased emphasis on accident and hazard awareness.

The Challenger tank overturned as it was reversing out of sight of the "enemy". Police accident investigator PC Stephen Cox said the two men who died had about half a second to take action.

He said: "It is possible the tank would have started to tip before the crew had time to recognise what was happening.

"If this is the case, they would not have had sufficient time to get back within the safety of the hull."

Tank gunner Trooper Simon Hampton told how he heard the order to reverse followed by shouting, then silence. He was trapped in the overturned tank for several hours.

Driver, Trooper Scot Christie, not long out of training, told how they drove up at a ridge looking for "enemy" tanks. Then he got the order to hard reverse and "put his foot flat to the floor". He said he felt the sensations of sliding and then turning over.