THE TEN Tors Expedition, run by the Army for the benefit of 2,400 adventure-seeking youngsters, is back in business after foot and mouth disease forced the cancellation of last year's event.

Four months of sustained preparation started last weekend when 160 team managers received a taste of what their young charges could expect during the epic trek across Dartmoor.

The managers' weekend at Okehampton Training Camp was designed to focus on the fluctuations of the Dartmoor micro climate and reinforce the stringent equipment and safety requirements demanded by army organisers.

They heard expert briefings from the military, Dartmoor Rescue and the police among others before walking the wilderness.

Some 500 military and civilian personnel are involved in Ten Tors and the army devotes many months to ensuring the infrastructure, resources and safety provisions are in place.

Ten Tors secretary Major Mike Pether said after the disappointment of the 2001 cancellation, a decision reluctantly but inevitably taken, he was looking forward to another success.

'The real heroes and heroines are those teenagers from across the South West who achieve a huge sense of having won against the odds . . . and an appreciation of Dartmoor,' he said.

Okehampton College principal Chris Powell confirmed that there would be two teams from the college taking part in the event this year.

Leaders from the town were disappointed two years ago when there was no representation from the college at Ten Tors.

Mr Powell, who has been principal for a year, said it was an excellent opportunity for young people and he wished he had done it when he was at school.

'It is a wonderful achievement to take part and complete the challenge, but it is also character building and helps the students to find out about themselves,' he said.

'I have been to Ten Tors three or four times in the past and it is fantastic to see the youngsters leaving on the Saturday morning and following their progress throughout the weekend.'

The principal said it was very important for the town to retain Ten Tors which brought publicity, visitors and more business.

'Okehampton should be really grateful for the military's input in encouraging this kind of thing, and to have training facilities like this on the doorstep of the college is great.'