Cheryl Cole flies to Afghanistan to cheer up troops

Cheryl Cole has flown to Afghanistan to help boost the morale of those serving on the front line.

The former X Factor judge was on her way to Camp Bastion in Helmand province on a visit to mark 10 years of British operations in the country, according to the Daily Mirror.

Cole, 28, reportedly said she was "delighted" to be making the trip.

A source told the newspaper: "Cheryl's amazed by the courage of all those serving our country.

"When she was invited to go out to see them in Afghanistan, she immediately said 'Yes'."

She is said to have boarded a troop carrier plane at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire for a 12-hour flight yesterday morning, having undergone hostile environment to prepare her for the trip.

As part of the visit, the Girls Aloud singer is due to meet British soldiers, sailors and airmen serving in the country, including those who have been wounded in action.

The pop star agreed to fly to the war zone to film a tribute to the armed forces as part of the Daily Mirror's Pride of Britain Awards, which will be screened on ITV1 next month, the newspaper claimed.

Earlier this year, Cole was sacked from the US X Factor and replaced on the judging panel by Nicole Scherzinger.

Last month she was filming a cameo role in the movie What To Expect When You're Expecting, starring Cameron Diaz, Jennifer Lopez, Chris Rock and Matthew Morrison.