British and French paratroopers have celebrated their ‘strong bonds and shared values’ with a joint parachute jump in France.

More than 350 troops from 16 Air Assault Brigade and their French partners 11e Brigade Parachutiste jumped onto fields near Mont St Michel in Normandy last week, say the British Army in a release.

St Michael is considered the patron saint of paratroopers and the island monastery was the perfect backdrop for an airborne celebration ahead of his feast day tomorrow.

Lance Corporal Sean Bowden, of 23 Parachute Engineer Regiment, said:

“It was a great jump, the air was very still and I had an amazing view of Mont St Michel on the way down – the ground was quite hard and dry to land on though! Today is about celebrating our partnership with the French – we’re all paratroopers with similar roles, training and experiences and we work together very well.”

According to the release:

“16 Air Asslt Bde and 11e BP – who both serve as their respective armies’ airborne rapid reaction forces – are at the forefront of increased cooperation between the British and French militaries. Since 2013 they have been trained and ready to deploy on joint missions as the Airborne Combined Joint Expeditionary Force (ACEF).”