A RISHTON soldier who blew up dozens of Iraqi mines and rockets to protect civilians revealed today he could not wait to get home to a McDonald's feast.

Stephen Barnsley, 25, returned from Iraq last Monday after spending four months in the Gulf working as a combat engineer with the 61 Field Support squadron.

Aside from a juicy Big Mac, Stephen knew he was missing valuable quality time with his three-year-old son Reece.

Sapper Stephen, of Harwood Road, said: "I hated the fact I was missing some really important months when Reece was growing up."

Asked what he missed most about his home, he jokingly replied: "I was dying for a McDonald's."

With his squadron forming part of the 16 Air Assault brigade, Stephen kept the forces supplied with ammunition.

More dangerous moments saw him blowing up loose mines and rockets the Iraqi soldiers had left behind.

Stephen, who was educated at St Peter's and St Paul's Primary and Norden County High School in Rishton, said: "The mines were a risk to civilians so we had to get rid of them by making holes and carefully blowing them up."

Older brother, Lee, 28, said: "It's such a brave thing to do because the explosions look massive when you see them in photos."

Parents Elaine and Paul decided to throw a party for Stephen's homecoming last night.

Elaine, 50, said: "We wanted to do it on a day when most of his friends would be around and luckily the weather was excellent. We're so happy to have him home because we were so worried with all the things going on out there."

Stephen kept in touch with his family via a Ministry of Defence e-mail system which allowed troops to e-mail their relatives.

Contact was made every week initially but when the troops started moving towards Baghdad, his family suffered.

Lee said: "It was difficult for us when we couldn't speak. Everyone was thinking of him."

Stephen joined the army two years ago after a brief stint as a factory worker at James Dewhurst fabrics factory in Altham.

He said: "I'm glad I joined, but I miss spending time with my son and want to see him grow up.

"If someone told me two years ago I'd be going to Iraq and blowing up mines I'd never have believed them."

Stephen will return to his barracks in Maidstone, Kent, at the end of July.