SOLDIERS gathered round for a selfie taken by England rugby legend and Celebrity Masterchef winner Matt Dawson during a visit to Colchester Garrison.

The BBC Question of Sport captain played touch rugby at Montgomery Primary School, which is attended by many children of serving soldiers, before posing for pictures with soldiers from 13 Air Assault Support Regiment, The Royal Logistic Corps.

One selfie was later posted on Twitter.

Dawson then visited Merville Barracks, home of 16 Air Assault Brigade, to help open two “pay as you dine” restaurants for soldiers in his role as the health and wellbeing ambassador of Sodexo, which provided them.

The revamped facilities, now called The Montgomery and The Browning, were opened by Maj Gen Mark Armstrong of the Defence Infrastructure Organisation.

Previously, brigade soldiers paid a lump sum a month for their food whether they ate three meals a day or not, Now they only pay for what they consume.

Finally, Mr Dawson unveiled the Eagles Rock Cafe in the former Musket Club in Fallowfield Road, which has been converted into a community centre.

The cafe was funded by the Colchester Garrison welfare committee.

For more pics, see Monday's Gazette