Silent night ordered as Army attacks snorers

SUN TZU said it best in The Art of War: The most effective weapon is the element of surprise. Unfortunately this has yet to reach certain elements of the Army, who have been threatening to give themselves away to the enemy - with their snoring.

Military doctors say that snoring can be so loud - 93 decibels is the record - that soldiers engaged on surveillance work risk giving away their position to the enemy. Now they are recommending that the problem be tackled, first with conservative treatment such as losing weight or sleeping on the side, and if that fails, surgery. "The management of snoring in the armed forces is an important issue," says a report in the Journal of the Royal Army Medical Corps. "Snoring may have significant effects in terms of personal performance, social interaction, and security.''

A team of doctors from Frimley Park military hospital, Aldershot, report they have operated successfully on 14 snorers. One military source said yesterday: "[Snoring] is a particular problem for the Special Forces like the SAS who may be working behind enemy lines."