Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders on Olympic security duty

The battalion has been drafted in a week after it was reduced to company status

A battalion of Scottish troops is being drafted in to provide extra security for the Olympics, the MoD has said.

It is understood some soldiers from the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders have already taken up their new duties.

It comes just a week after the unit was told it was effectively being disbanded because of defence cuts.

An extra 3,500 defence personnel are needed after the private contractor, G4S, failed to recruit and train enough staff to secure Olympic venues.

The additional military deployment will take the total number of servicemen and women involved in the Games to 17,000.

Last week, the Ministry of Defence confirmed the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders - the 5th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland - were to be downgraded to a so-called Public Duty Company as part of plans to reduce the army by 20,000 troops.

It has also emerged that Strathclyde Police officers will make up any shortfall for football matches at Glasgow's Hampden Stadium if G4S is unable to meet its commitments.

Eight matches are due to take place there between 25 July and 3 August.

Strathclyde's Asst Ch Con Fiona Taylor said extra police officers would be deployed at Hampden if there were not enough stewards and guards.