Image copyright PA Image caption Daryl Archer, 26, was arrested at Heathrow Airport on Wednesday after flying into the UK from Brazil

A serving British soldier has been charged with trying to smuggle 11lb (5kg) of cocaine through Heathrow Airport.

Private Daryl Archer, 26, based at the Colchester barracks in Essex, was arrested at Terminal One after arriving back from Sao Paulo in Brazil.

The soldier, who is with 13 Air Assault Support Regiment Royal Logistic Corps, was arrested on Wednesday.

He is due to appear at Isleworth Court in Greater London later this month.

He faces a single charge of attempting to import the class A drug into the country. He has been remanded in custody.

Pte Archer, originally from Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk, was living in the garrison's Merville Barracks.

The case will be heard on 23 January.