A Dutch armoured vehicle on patrol in Mali hit a roadside bomb on Monday, damaging the vehicle but causing no injuries to the soldiers it was carrying.

According to the defence ministry website, the incident occurred on Monday afternoon during a patrol of the Kidal area in the north east of Mali.

The vehicle was take back to the Dutch camp in Gao where most of the Dutch soldiers are staying.

The Netherlands has been part of the United Nation’s peace-keeping operation in Mali since April 2014, with a force of some 450 soldiers and support staff, plus four Apache and three Chinook helicopters.

In March, a Dutch military helicopter crashed in the north of Mali, killing both crew.

Last week, the Dutch government said the situation in the north of Mali had worsened, with regular attacks on UN bases and more jihadists seen around the city of Gao.

The government will decide later this year whether or not to extend the Dutch mission in Mali.