A BARNOLDSWICK soldier was due home this week after a six-month tour ensuring that vital communications systems were kept up and running in Bosnia.

Signaller Lou Barker, of 16 Signal Regiment of the Royal Corps of Signals was based in Banja Luka as part of the British contribution to the NATO-led multinational Stabilisation Force (SFOR).

British soldiers have been working hard to ensure the future peace of the country through regular street patrols and deliveries of vital aid to those living in remote communities.

It was 19-year-old Lou's job to make sure they had support from vital communications systems.

She said: "It's my first time away from home and my first operational tour. It's been all right but we are quite limited with what we can do. The living conditions are not too bad here -- I thought it would be worse."

The former West Craven High School pupil joined the Army in 1998 and has served in Germany and Cyprus.

She said: I joined the Army because my family were in the forces. The social life is good in general."

Lou was expected to return home to her mum and dad, June and Mark, in Barnoldswick.