PHOTOGRAPHS taken by soldiers from Worcestershire’s infantry regiment show them rubbing shoulders with tennis superstars as they helped provide security during the Games.

Troops from the 2nd Battalion Mercian Regiment have tweeted pictures of themselves posing alongside the likes of Andy Murray, Serena Williams and John McEnroe.

The regiment returned from Afghanistan at the end of April and had been on leave before they started training to provide security for the Olympics.

The battalion was always due to take part, with 200 soldiers on day shift and 200 on night shift, but has been given a more prominent role following the failure of G4S to supply adequate security.

In one of the pictures, Major Garrett and Company Sergeant Major Ben Cox, of Worcester, flanked former world number one McEnroe.

Major Garrett labelled the moment he and the former Hanley Castle High School pupil met the tennis legend as “awesome indeed”.

Tweeting a picture of Serena Williams, he said Lieutenant Luke Beetlestone and Lieutenant Tim Silbermann made “quite an impression” as they swept the ladies’ singles Olympic tennis gold medallist off her feet.

And it was another medal winner who starred in a third picture as 2 Mercian’s CSM Ben Cox is shown standing alongside Andy Murray.