A Royal Marine Commando is undergoing challenging training in the US.
Stuart Morris, originally from Chester-le-Street, is a member of X-Company, 45 Commando Group Royal Marines.
He has recently returned from a six-month tour of Northern Ireland but is now with the rest of his unit in California, on Exercise Black Horse.
The unit has spent time at the United States Marine Corps base in the Mojave Desert and in the mountains of the Sierra Nevada, in northern California.
Before getting his Green Beret, Stuart had to undergo 30 weeks of training at the Royal Marine Commando Training Centre, in Devon.
Stuart, 27, a former pupil of Hermitage Comprehensive was previously in the Royal Navy before changing career path.
He said "I've been to some fantastic places and made some great mates along the way - to be honest I can't imagine a more exciting life."
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