SWAPPING the war-torn streets of Iraq for those of a North-East town proved more dangerous for a former soldier, who was shot while working as a fire investigator.

Cleveland Fire Brigade arson reduction officer Gary Mason was hit in the back with a pellet from a .22 calibre airgun in Miers Avenue, Hartlepool.

Mr Mason, a former soldier who served for six months in Baghdad last year, had been inspecting a property in the street when he was shot as he returned to his fire service van.

The attack, which happened at about 11am on March 12, cames weeks after Royal Mail closed a post box on the Central Estate, after a postman was shot at with an air rifle.

Firefighters have been put on alert amid fears other attacks could be carried out.

Cleveland Police said they are investigating the latest attack and have appealed for anyone with information to contact them.

Father-of-two Mr Mason was a captain in the Adjutant General's Corps before joining the fire brigade four years ago.

He was not hurt because the pellet lodged in his jacket, but he said he could have been blinded if it had hit him in the eye.

The 45-year-old, from Hartlepool, said: "I was in Baghdad last year. I am an ex-soldier who joined the TA and was sent there to work in the US Embassy.

"You expected to be shot at in Iraq, but not in the West View area of Hartlepool.

"What gets me is that I was in uniform and in a fire brigade vehicle doing my job trying to make people's lives better, and I have this idiot taking pot shots.

"It didn't hurt, but if it hit me in the eye, I could have been blinded."

Fire chiefs say they take a zero-tolerance approach to officers being targeted.

Steve Harll, watch manager at Stranton Fire Station, said: "If there is a report of violence towards staff the immediate thing we do is inform everyone else.

"It is a sad state of affairs for an organisation working for the community now having to go in there and have problems.

"We have a zero-tolerance attitude to it and if we can catch them, we will."

Anyone with any information is asked to contact PC Nigel Home on 01642-302126.