A FORMER student went back to school to tell other pupils about his life as a soldier.

Leon Dand (right), 17, from Padiham, is an old boy of St Theodore's High School, Burnley, and has just completed his 28-week training course for the Royal Signals at the Army Technical Foundation College near Reading, where he also played for the college football team.

And as a "satisfied soldier" he has been seconded to work for two weeks at the Army Careers Office in Burnley before he is sent to Blandford, Dorset, for a further 44 weeks of training.

He said: "I went on a visit to Gawthorpe High School for an open day and to talk to the students, I have also done a talk to Burnley College Students and been to St Theodore's.

"Once I am in Dorset I will probably only get home to see my family once a month and when I finish training I expect to be posted in Cyprus or Germany.

Back home is mum Christine, brother Jermaine, 20, sister Nadia, 11 and grandmother Ann Thompson. His father Edward lives in Burnley.