A STAR of a documentary series about the Tyne and Wear Metro is a former soldier who served in Afghanistan with Prince Harry.

James McCaffery, the man responsible for running the network’s control room, starred in the first episode of the four-part documentary series , The Metro: A Rail Life Story, and he makes an appearance in the final episode when staff are seen managing crowds at the Great North Run.

James, 40, of Gosforth, spent 17 years in the British Army prior to joining Nexus.

Between 2007 and 2008 he did a six month tour of duty in war-torn Afghanistan, fighting battles against the Taliban in Helmand Province as a major in the Royal Artillery Regiment.

He briefly served alongside Prince Harry at a forward operating base in northern Helmand, near the town of Musa Qala, a scene of the war’s most fierce fighting.

After leaving the Army he was able to transfer his operational management skills into a role at Metro, and he became its head of service delivery.

And after 15 months in that job he found himself at work alongside the film crews shooting the Metro documentary series.

He said: “I was nervous about seeing myself on screen but I was also pleasantly surprised by it.

“The feedback has been positive and I’ve had some good natured ribbing from my former army colleagues.

“Over the four episodes the viewers will get the chance to see a lot of the hard working staff who put everything into delivering the Metro service.”