BOLTON MP David Crausby went through a gruelling training programme to find out what it's like to be in the Royal Marines.

The Labour politician is a member of the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme and one of his tasks was tackling a special assault course in Lympstone, Devon. The current generation of MPs have not completed national service and the initiative aims to highlight the conflict between normal family life and the travel involved in modern warfare.

The assault course involved jogging and crawling through a series of tunnels, one of which was underwater. The Bolton North-east MP says it was pitch black and freezing.

But it was not as bad as when he joined the Marines in the Arctic Circle and spent two nights in a tent in the snow.

Mr Crausby has tabled an early day motion in the House of Commons expressing congratulations to Pip Tattersall, the first woman to be enrolled by the Royal Marines, who also had to complete the assault course.

He said: "Having participated in training sessions, I fully understand the size of her task -- which is considered the toughest in the world. There were some who said it was impossible for a woman to complete the course. I'm delighted that she has managed to prove them wrong."

The MP still retains a close relationship with the Marines and is a member of the Royal Marines Parliamentary Group.