TWO Queen's Lancashire Regiment war heroes have been honoured with medals for their bravery during battles in Iraq.

The widow of Company Sergeant Major Darren Leigh was handed the Military Cross for her husband's bravery in protecting a police station against a 300-strong angry mob of Iraqis in Basra last August.

CSM Leigh collapsed with a brain haemorrhage hours after learning he was due to receive the award at barracks in Cyprus last April. Marie Leigh received the award from the Queen at the Buckingham Palace ceremony yesterday.

And 1st Battalion Lieutenant Colonel Jorge Mendonca was also honoured. He received a Distinguished Service Order for his leadership in Iraq.

This morning Lt Col Mendonca, the only commanding officer in Iraq in the post-war period to receive a DSO, told the Evening Telegraph of his pride.

He said: "The ceremony was great.

"Marie Leigh was very brave and held it together extremely well. I was proud we were able to go together. The Queen presented me with the award and we had a brief conversation.

"She said she was pleased to be presenting me with this award and had heard good stories about the battalion. She asked how the battalion was and what we were doing next.

"I felt hugely honoured to be receiving the award on behalf of the battalion. It is a recognition of what we achieved together."

CSM Leigh, from Swinton, Manchester, is the first in the regiment to receive the Military Cross for more than 40 years and the first warrant officer of the regiment to ever receive it.

The regiment has been based in Cyprus since January after serving in Iraq between June and October last year.