A DARING raid into the besieged city of Basra was led by an Army officer from North Yorkshire, it was revealed last night.

Major Tim Brown, from Bedale, was in command of a tank unit that stormed three miles into the heart of the city, the second biggest in Iraq.

His squadron of 11 Challenger II tanks from the Scots Dragoon Guards met stiff resistance from Iraqi forces still battling to hold on to Basra.

But after racing ahead through the streets and swiftly achieving their objectives, his squadron managed to return without suffering any casualties.

The squadron had three targets in mind as they charged into the city, including a Fedayeen paramilitary HQ, a TV and radio mast and a 20ft high statue of Saddam Hussein.

Major Brown, 38, said: "The mission wasn't to go in and kill people, it was to take out three objectives of infrastructure and there were no civilians wandering around at that time.

"The 300ft television mast was taken out to stop the propaganda of Saddam and the regime, which they continue to broadcast as a form of brainwashing."

He added: "An intelligence source told us that the two to three storey building was a Fedayeen headquarters and that was razed.

"And the statue was a visible symbol of regime change for the population."

Major Brown's tank was part of the troop that attacked the communications mast and it took 15 rounds to bring it crashing to the ground.

Tank commander David Ross, whose Challenger II destroyed the statue, said: "I got it in my sights, we got the first round in and it only took one round.

"It was a black, cast iron statue of Saddam Hussein in a greatcoat with his right arm raised in the air.

"It just sort of crumpled, there was a big flash and sparks everywhere and it was gone. I wish it had been the real thing."

31/03/2003