TROOPS from the region have killed eight Iraqi insurgents who were laying roadside bombs close to where four British soldiers died in blasts a week earlier.

Soldiers based at Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire, spoke for the first time last night about the strike, the first time Javelin missiles have been used during the Iraq campaign.

The details emerged on the same weekend as hundreds of people gathered for the funeral of 18-year-old Rifleman Aaron Lincoln, from Durham City, who was killed during a gun battle near Basra Palace.

And it also came as the Ministry of Defence (MoD) released details of an apparent mid-air collision between two RAF helicopters north of Baghdad, which left two dead.

Speaking of the successful operation against the Iraqi insurgents, the MoD said two teams of militia were spotted laying bombs on Friday night in the Hyall Shuala district, west of Basra city.

Soldiers from 2nd Battalion, the Duke of Lancaster's Regiment, who are based at Catterick, fired Javelin ground-to-ground missiles.

Troops also opened fire with tanks and small arms.

Military chiefs believe that at least eight insurgents were killed.

An MoD spokesman said last night that it was not possible to link the dead insurgents with the roadside bombs that claimed the lives of Second Lieutenant Joanna Yorke Dyer, Corporal Kris O'Neill, Private Eleanor Dlugosz and Kingsman Adam James Smith on April 5.

The soldiers, including three of who were based at Catterick Garrison, died when their Warrior armoured vehicle was hit by a bomb.

But the spokesman added: "These militiamen were intent upon launching exactly the same type of attack in the same area."

Corporal Paul Fearnley, from 1st Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment, is attached to the Duke of Lancaster's Regiment battlegroup.

The Catterick Garrison soldier led a four-man unit that spotted the insurgents and fired three Javelin missiles.

Cpl Fearnley, 36, said: "It was a routine patrol to locate insurgents laying IEDs (improvised explosive devices).

"We observed for about an hour, and during that time we saw insurgents laying command wires and IEDs.

"We asked for authority to fire. After some time, the authority came down for us to have a go - and we fired three missiles.

"You've got a job to do and you don't think about what's gone before."

Private Mathew Sewell, 23, also from the Yorkshire Regiment, who lives at Somme Barracks, in Catterick, fired the Javelin.

He said: "You're happy that you've done the job. I guess any of the lads could have done it, but it was lucky that it was me."

British military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Kevin Stratford-Wright said last night: "The multinational force in south-east Iraq must be able to strike those militia who seek to kill its soldiers, and who also intimidate the people of Basra with death threats.

"Operations against rogue militia will therefore continue, especially so against their leadership and their weapons stocks, but also, as in this case, against operatives. Increasingly, over the coming weeks and months, these operations will become Iraqi-led and executed.

"Disrupting militia operations and eroding their capabilities, alongside building Iraqi security force capacity, will create the conditions for successful security transition in Basra."

Military chiefs say it was decided not to use military aircraft in support of ground troops during the operation to reduce the risk of hitting civilians.