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A soldier who crashed an eight-tonne armoured vehicle into a garden in a Norfolk village during a driving lesson has apologised to the homeowners.

The Spartan Armoured Personnel Carrier left the road in Letheringsett.

The soldier, who had recently returned from Afghanistan, had apologised to house owners Phil and Jayne Jones, a Ministry of Defence spokeswoman said.

She said the soldier was an experienced driver who was learning to drive tracked vehicles such as the Spartan.

The vehicle, complete with L- plates, was manned by members of the Light Dragoons, based at Swanton Morley.

The crew was on its way to a training ground.

Demolished fence

Mr Jones, 64, and his 44-year-old wife, an opera singer, were at home when the accident happened.

Mr Jones said: "We heard what sounded like a collision on the main road involving a heavy goods vehicle.

"We ran around to investigate and found a military vehicle sitting astride our fence."

He said the tank had demolished a 20-metre (65.6ft) section of fence.

Mr Jones added: "The soldiers were a nice bunch of chaps. Like anybody would be, I think they were a little mortified."

He said the fence had been mended and he was discussing payment with MoD insurers.