The government has announced that British troops are to be taken off a two-day stand-by as the crisis in Afghanistan recedes.

Speaking to MPs on Monday, the defence secretary, Geoff Hoon, said the move would take the strain off many troops - although he signalled that the Royal Marines would remain on high alert.

Denying that the move represented a change in military strategy, Downing Street said the decision to change the "notice to move" reflected a change in the situation on the ground in Afghanistan.

Speaking ahead of the announcement, Downing Street denied that the government was changing strategy.

"Any change will not necessarily apply to all our forces and should be seen in the context of a changing situation," said the prime minister's official spokesman.

Despite claims of a rift between the UK and the US, Number 10 said the decision to put forces back on to a seven day notice period was "a direct result of the situation being better rather than worse".

However Britain's decision to step back from committing service personnel comes at a time when the US is pouring troops into Kandahar - the final Taliban stronghold in Afghanistan.

Whilst it is not expected that any additional British troops will be deployed, government sources have let it be known that the ground force guarding the Bagram airbase still "has an important job to do".

Number 10 refused to rule out the possibility of deploying further troops to the region once the situation has stabilised. A spokesman said it would be "unwise to get into predictions" about future deployments.

The foreign secretary, Jack Straw, is still said to believe that a long-term international military presence may be required in Afghanistan.