British troops 'could withdraw before next Christmas'

British troops may start returning from Afghanistan before next Christmas after the head of the armed forces said last night that the progress being made in the country was now “quite astronomical”.

During a surprise pre-Christmas visit to Helmand today, David Cameron said he was “cautiously optimistic” about the situation in Afghanistan.

However, General Sir David Richards, the Chief of the Defence Staff who accompanied Mr Cameron, was more bullish and said he had been taken aback by developments in the past three months.