SOLDIERS from the Queen's Lancashire Regiment landed at Teesside Airport yesterday after a five-month spell helping to rebuild Iraq.

The regiment, based at Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire, suffered the loss of officer David Jones in August after the ambulance he volunteered to command was blown up, near Basra.

At the airport yesterday Lieutenants Andy Witherall, 27, of North Shields, and Craig Rodgers, 25, of Darlington, both of the regiment's first battalion, marched the regiment's colours off the plane, as a military band played to herald the soldiers' return.

Lt Rodgers, who graduated from Sandhurst military academy last year, said: "It was my first time in action so I was a bit apprehensive beforehand, but we are well trained and when you're out there in the thick of it the training kicks in.

"We were out there to try to restore order and rebuild Basra and provide assistance and security for the people.

"It was really challenging at times. Once we had the trust of the locals it was much easier."

While in Iraq, Lt Rodgers led a unit of soldiers on a sweep of a property which saved the life of a baby.

As reported in The Northern Echo, the unit found a padlocked metal box, surrounded by a cache of weapons, which they opened and found a baby girl wrapped in a blanket. She was given first aid before being taken to hospital.