ALASTAIR Mackenzie (pictured) is a man of action. In an illustrious army career he fought in Vietnam, served with the Parachute Regiment and was a member of the SAS where he rose to rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. Now the well-decorated officer runs his own business - working for the government and waging a new war on benefit fraudsters who cost the taxpayer between £2billion and £4billion every year. Because of the nature of his work Mackenzie guards his identity and would only be photographed in his helmet. Reporter JAMIE DIFFLEY went to meet the man behind the mask.

WE MEET in a car park on a blustery morning.

My offer to drive to the company's base in Chorley was flatly refused and instead we meet here halfway between Chorley and Blackburn. As I slowly park the car there is no sign of life. Then from seemingly nowhere a black-leather-clad figure emerges on a powerful motorbike.

The visor pops-up and a pair of steely blue eyes meet my gaze, looking me up and down. A firm hand is outstretched and our subject introduces himself just like James Bond saying: "I'm Mackenzie. Alastair Mackenzie."

The photographer takes pictures with Mackenzie refusing to remove his helmet.

"It's for personal security," he explains. "With the jobs I have done and am still doing it is not necessary for people to know what I look like."

Mackenzie is a man of mystery straight out of an Ian Fleming novel. But his experiences are very much real.

Born in the UK he moved to New Zealand when his father retired from the armed forces after a distinguished career. An officer in the Royal Artillery, Mackenzie Senior holds the record for the highest number of enemy tank kills in north west Europe during World War II. Mackenzie joined the New Zealand Infantry at 17 and when he was 21 he spent 12 months as a platoon leader in Vietnam commanding over 30 soldiers.

At 25 he moved back to this country and joined the Parachute Regiment before becoming a member of the Special Forces with which he served for nine years and won as many medals.

It was while with the Special Forces that he learned the skills he now passes on to government officers from the Benefits Agency.

After stints in the Middle East Mackenzie left the forces in 1989 and moved to Chorley when he was international sales manager with Royal Ordnance in Euxton.

"I loved the military life but I thought it was time to say 'right I've had a great career and it's time for something else'," said the married father-of-two. "I joined the Territorial Army in Lancashire because I still felt I had something to contribute and could share my experience."

Although enjoying his civilian job and lifestyle, the lure of danger was never far away and Mackenzie began to oversee security measures at Heathrow and Gatwick Airports . In 1995 Mackenzie set up his own business, AMA Associates, offering security and surveillance services.

With more than 30 staff on his books - all from a military background and personally vetted by Mackenzie - his business recently secured a contract to work with the government. His men hold three-day courses all over the country where fraud investigators are taught surveillance techniques. These are put into practice to stop the scores of fraud claims which cost the taxpayer around £4billion every year.

So far more than 1,000 officers have been trained by Mackenzie with participants receiving a qualification in Professionalism in Security (Pins) accredited by Portsmouth University.

"The trick is to become a 'grey person', somebody who completely blends into their environment," said Mackenzie. "Also they must be aware of other people, not just focused on the subject because other people could be watching you watching somebody else."

Using code-language and a host of high-tech gadgets straight out of a James Bond film Mackenzie is confident that his pupils will go on to get their man although not at any cost.

"We don't teach self-defence. What we do teach officers is not to put themselves or their colleagues at risk. No subject is worth confrontation and you can always come back tomorrow."

When our chat ends Mackenzie jumps to his feet and stretches out his hand once more. With a cloud of dust spewed from his bike Mackenzie is gone. Gone to help fight endless battles in the name of his country.