TROOPS serving in Iraq will be greeted by a taste of home when they arrive there next month.

Pure Bowland Spring Water, based in the Forest of Bowland, has sent out a batch of bottles to Iraq for members of the Duke of Lancaster's regiment.

Pure Bowland, which launched this year, is Lancashire's only spring water and boss David Gardner has presented the regiment with its own supply.

Presenting the pallet to Duke of Lancaster's Regim-ent Commanding Officer Gary Deakin, David said he admired the troops enormously.

He said: "We are a local business supporting our community. We want the boys from Lancashire, and across the region, to know they have our support and we are thinking of them.

"This is a small token of the tremendous admiration and respect for the job they do."

Lieutenant Colonel Gary Deakin, said the regiment appreciated Pure Bowland's donation greatly.

Mr Deakin, who spoke out about the growing gulf between the army and general public in the Lancashire Telegraph last month, said it was vital that everyone got behind the troops and recognised the job they were doing.

He added: "The support of the community is invaluable particularly to young soldiers in keeping them motivated and happy.

It is especially rewarding to have the support of small family run businesses like Pure Bowland.

"Iraq is going to be a tough and dangerous environment to work in.

"Every bit of support a soldier gets matters enormously.

"Our soldiers have grown up together. They come from the same villages towns and cities in the region.

"The stronger the support is the more robust our morale will be."

The 2nd Battalion of the Duke of Lancaster's Regiment returned from Basra after a six-month tour of duty in June having experienced some of the fiercest resistance from Iraqi insurgents.

During the next tour, due to start in November, around 550 soldiers will be helping to train the Basra security forces.

They will be based at an airfield outside Basra after British troops were moved out of the city to allow Iraqi security forces a more central role in law enforcement.