SOUTH Ribble MP David Borrow recently returned from a visit to war-torn Iraq, where he got a glimpse into the lifestyle of overthrown dictator Saddam Hussein.

He flew to Basra in Southern Iraq in one of the first groups of politicians to visit the city since the conflict began.

While he was there he spoke to British troops and witnessed the work being done to rebuild the city.

And he took these pictures of the city to share with Citizen readers.

Mr Borrow said: "We had a briefing at Saddam Hussein's presidential palace which the army has taken over. The contrast between the palace and the rest of the civilian areas was pretty stark.

"It was all marble and huge mahogany doors and fancy carvings."

While in Basra, Mr Borrow spent the week with troops from the First Battalion, Royal Fusiliers.

He said: "In the next few weeks they're due to be returning to the UK and be replaced by other regiments, so we had the chance to speak to soldiers who have been there for three or four months."

Even though the war has ended, Mr Borrow says he still came within earshot of gunfire, but not the type he expected. Out on patrol he heard the sounds of shots being fired at a wedding celebration.

But the Labour MP believes that despite 30 years under Saddam, and being ravaged by American missiles, Basra can look forward to a bright future.

Mr Borrow explained: "We visited a medical centre that had just been redone. They had a fridge for vaccines and were waiting for a computer to help with dispensing. Things were improving in that sense, and there was no shortage of food."