TWO weeks after becoming a Royal Marine Commando, a 22-year-old has been sent to Iraq.

Michael Graham received his coveted Green Beret last month. His family now believe he is near Basra, but do not expect to hear from him again until the war is over.

His father, David Graham, from Walworth Drive, Chester-le-Street, said: "I didn't thing they would recruit them so soon, but apparently once you've done your training you're out there. I suppose there will be older ones who look after them a bit."

Michael, a former pupil of The Hermitage school, in Chester-le-Street, served with the 45 Commando at Arbroath, Scotland, but in the Middle East he has been put with the Royal Marine Reserve, based on the Tyne.