AN inquest with major implications for UK special forces operations is due to open in Hereford today (Monday).

SAS soldiers Sgt John Battersby and Tpr Lee Fitzsimmons died when the Puma helicopter flying their special forces team to a secret mission in Iraq crashed and exploded near Baghdad in November 2007.

Twelve other SAS soldiers were injured in the crash, some seriously.

The inquest, to be held amid high security, is expected to last a week.