A WARM welcome was in store for four East Lancashire soldiers when they arrived in war-torn Bosnia.

David Hall, from Haslingden, Anthony McCutcheon, from Rossendale, David Boyle, Blackburn, and Brennan Ardern, Brierfield, said they were surprised by the devastation in the country, but surprised at the friendliness of the people.

They are serving in the 66,000-strong NATO Implementation Force (IFOR) in the 1st Battalion of The Queen's Lancashire Regiment and are based in the central Bosnian town of Gornji Vakuf.

Many Bosnians fled this area in their thousands after being overrun by their Bosnian Croatian neighbours, but now the soldiers say that confidence is increasing.

"The locals are really friendly and bring us coffee and food," said Private Hall, 18, who joined the battalion at the end of March.

"IFOR are very very popular and we're always being invited into people's homes. They are rebuilding and sorting themselves out now." The soldiers are patrolling the region and carrying out community tasks, including recovering unexploded objects, getting rid of weapons and organising censuses to see what equipment is needed.

Private McCutcheon, 19, is on his first operational tour and is working on patrol check points. "It's hard being away from home for so long," he said. "I really miss having a bath."

Private Boyle, 25, drives an armoured vehicle. "I enjoy patrolling, going round town and getting out to see and talk to people," he said. They like IFOR round here. I didn't really expect people to be so friendly."

Kingsman Ardern, 28, who postponed his wedding to go to Bosnia on the six-months posting, said: "My fiance didn't like it, but has taken it in her stride. We were getting married in August but I'll still be here, so we're getting married in October now."

The battalion is due to return to their Wiltshire base at the beginning of September.

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