THE MOTHER of a Nelson squaddie today spoke of her delight that he will not be tried for murdering an Iraqi civilian.

Tank driver Kevin Williams, 21, of Cravendale Avenue, had been due to stand trial at the Old Bailey in London for the murder of father-of-nine Hassan Said.

He became the first British serviceman to be charged with murder in Iraq, after an incident near Basra in August 2003.

Kevin was part of a patrol which stopped a truck suspected of carrying weapons.

Mr Said is believed to have been shot during an attempt to arrest him.

But a U-turn by government lawyers means the soldier, a trooper with the 2nd Royal Tank Regiment, now has no case to answer.

It is understood the move comes after the director of public prosecutions reviewed the evidence in the case.

Today Kevin's delighted mum Julie, 47, speaking from her home in Nelson, said she heard yesterday that he was due to be cleared, but revealed that she hadn't spoken to her son since hearing the news.

She said: "It's been confirmed to me that Kevin won't have to face a trial and I'm so happy. I found out yesterday when I had a phone call from his guardians.

"I'm pleased about it -- that's an understatement. It is a big relief and I haven't slept all night. I am absolutely over the moon it's all over. It's a weight off our shoulders.

"He was just doing his job and this should never have happened."

She added: "I don't know when I will see Kevin because he is on exercises and I'm not sure where."

Kevin was accused of murdering father-of-nine Hassan Said, an Iraqi civilian, on or before August 3, 2003, in Ad Dayr.

Kevin, who had been on bail at his barracks at Catterick, was facing criminal charges because the Attorney General Lord Goldsmith called in the police. The trooper's commanding officer had previously decided he should not face a court martial.

Nelson MP Gordon Prentice had been due to hand a petition to 10 Downing Street calling for the charge to be dropped.

Mr Prentice was hoping East Lancashire MPs Peter Pike and Greg Pope would join him to back the call.

Mr Prentice today said: "If this is true it is fantastic news."