Military personnel helped out in Hainault Forest Country Park during their stay there for the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Vision Redbridge, which run’s the council’s leisure services, said today that the staff got involved in maintenance projects within the grounds.

One volunteer from the Royal Air Force, Cpl Lee Overend, of Bradford, cleared a thick covering of brambles around red ant colonies.

Paul Browne, the park’s manager, requested volunteers from Wing Cdr Guy Bazalgette.

A Vision spokesman said the response he received was excellent.

The staff stayed on site while carrying out security duties at the Games.

Mr Bazalgette said: “I viewed this idea as an ideal opportunity to give something back to the park that was home to so many of us over the Olympic period.”