Stars' Visits To Troops Cost More Than £400k

Celebrity visits to Afghanistan to boost the morale of UK troops cost taxpayers nearly half a million pounds last year, the Government has revealed.
David Beckham, Cheryl Cole and Katherine Jenkins are among stars who have been to the war zone, dressing in combat gear and even sleeping alongside servicemen and women.
Defence Secretary Philip Hammond said the cost of the visits topped £400,000 in 2011.
He told MPs: "Entertainment of members of the armed forces is, and has been for many years, an important element of the deployment welfare package.
"It helps to maintain morale and thereby the combat-effectiveness of service personnel.
"The MoD has a contract with Combined Services Entertainment to provide entertainment to members of the armed forces deployed overseas, including Afghanistan.
"The value of entertainment provided for Afghanistan against this contract during 2011 was £437,637."
It was not made clear if the stars were paid for their visits to Afghanistan.
But Mr Hammond said those who went were transported and accommodated alongside the armed forces "at minimal extra cost to the public purse".