The Army has been accused of hushing up a serious assault on a Canterbury soldier by another squaddie.

It is alleged the victim, a reservist serving with the city's Third Battalion Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment, was attacked with a pair of garden shears on a peacekeeping mission in Cyprus.

He is thought to have suffered serious head injuries in the attack, which has left him with unsightly scars.

The accused, a regular soldier, was reportedly taken off the barracks in the capital, Nicosia, and taken to a British army base at Dhekelia.

But a source close to the mission said troops from Canterbury, who are nearing the end of a six-month tour on the holiday island, were sworn to secrecy about the attack by senior personnel.

He said: "On November 17 one of the reservists was badly injured in an attack and a regular soldier was held on an attempted murder charge at Dhekelia.

"It happened on barracks, on the Blue Beret Camp, and I'm told garden shears were used as a weapon.

"All of the soldiers were told not to say anything, but he suffered some nasty head injuries.

"I was told it may have been drink-related and the lads had their curfews cut short. Some of them treat it like a holiday, rather than a six-month tour."

The Ministry of Defence confirmed it was investigating allegations of an assault, which are being handled by a commanding officer.

But it would not comment on the nature of any alleged offence or the severity of the injuries suffered by the soldier, who lives in Canterbury with his family.

Police in Cyprus are not thought to be involved in the investigation.

Our source said: "The soldiers have been told to keep mum, which is very unhealthy and shouldn't go on.

"It just makes you wonder what else they've been told to keep quiet about. The problem is the Army has got you by the short and curlies."

Stories you might have missed

'Coward' steals war medals from veteran aged 100

Boy flown to hospital after being hit by car

Widow's grief at death of biker on first ride

Man treated for hypothermia after boat rescue