Reports of an impending redeployment of Scottish troops to Afghanistan next April have raised concerns over reduced leave causing fatigue amongst Britain's hardest working soldiers.

According to the sources, 1,500 soldiers from the Royal Scots Borderers (1st Scots), the Royal Artillery (Lowland Gunners), the Black Watch (3rd Scots) and 40 Regiment will support the 19th Light Brigade campaign in Afghanistan next year.

Controversy has arisen over the inclusion of the Royal Scots Borderers, despite their having returned from a tour of service in Iraq only one year ago.

According to Ministry of Defence (MoD) regulations, troops are entitled to two years between active service deployments, and should not be available for active duty for a further 12 months.

Whilst the MoD has not officially confirmed the reports, they come at a time when guidelines are being consistently overlooked to combat the growing problem of personnel shortages in the military.

With Britain's extensive committments in Iraq, Afghanistan and Sierra Leone, as well as to other peace-keeping missions across the globe, almost one in ten soldiers are being forced to breach these rules.

By next spring the number of troops in the Middle East is set to reach record levels.

Earlier last week, defence secretary Des Browne reiterated prime minister Gordon Brown’s assertion that while tactical reorientation may see troops withdraw from Iraq next year, the Afghanistan problem will continue into the foreseeable future.

Afghanistan's Helmand province has seen the death of four Scots soldiers since April 2008, and fatalities in the country have now outstripped those in Iraq.

In April this year, soldiers of the 52 Brigade returned to Edinburgh in the wake of an SNP announcement that downplayed Scottish troops’ support for the war on terrorism.

However, the brigade spun a positive angle on the work taking place in Afghanistan: soldiers reported that they made a significant contribution through training Afghan police and restoring a level of normality and security to many divided communities.

The brigade was also at the forefront of NATO operations which succeeded in neutralising the Taleban stronghold of Musa Qala.