VIDEO: Prince Harry coming back to UK

2:00pm Saturday 1st March 2008

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PRINCE Harry is to be withdrawn from Afghanistan's Helmand Province after news leaked out on an American website that he had been fighting the Taleban for the past 10 weeks.

The MoD announced its "regrettable" decision to avoid further risking the life of the Prince, nicknamed "Bullet Magnet" by his colleagues, and other soldiers.

We gauged the reaction among families of East Lancashire soldiers serving in war-torn countries.

THE news should never have been leaked, but it's the right decision by the MoD - that's the view of many soldiers' families, who applaud Prince Harry for going out to serve in war-torn Afghanistan.

Regional charity represe-ntative Lynn Dickinson, from Shadsworth, Blackburn who-se 29-year-old son Stephen is currently now serving in Helmand Province, said: "Harry really has gone up in my estimation, he's stuck to his guns and I have the utmost respect for what he's done, as do many of our wives, girlfriends and moth-ers - just because he's royalty doesn't mean he shouldn't do the job he signed up for.

"I just wish the rest of the lads got the same sort of coverage as he does, and that more MPs would send their sons out there."

Barbara Whittam's gran-dson, Kingsman Gary Davis, is currently on a six month tour in Iraq, along with hundreds of fellow troops from the Duke of Lancaster's Regiment, including men and women from Blackburn, Darwen, Hyndburn, Burnley and Pendle.

Kingsman Davis, 21, trained with Prince Harry last year in Canada.

Mrs Whittam, from Athens View in Fulledge, Burnley, said: "Gary said he was a great guy, just one of the lads and I think it's a real shame that the news has been leaked.

"It was obviously something he wanted to do and was enjoying being out there. I'm not annoyed that he is being withdrawn, and I don't think Gary would be either, because Prince Harry is obviously going to be a target now that everyone knows, and the other soldiers will be more at risk.

"But it's right that he had the chance to be a normal soldier."

Karen Webster is the fou-nder of Support Our Soldiers charity, which helps East Lancashire soldiers' families.

She said: "We're very proud of Prince Harry for going out there and doing everything he has done.

"I think it really shows his strength and courage.

"It's very disappointing that the news was leaked, because for 10 weeks it wor-ked, but it now does make him a key tar-get, so for the sake of the remaining troops in Afghanistan, it's ess-ential that he is brought home. While I appreciate that other families would like their sons home too, I think the cons-ensus is that this is a very different situation and it's safer for the Prince to come back.

"He will have been in dangerous situations, as all front line soldiers are, but I don't think Prince Harry's presence put them in any more danger, while it was unreported.

She added: "I am sure that soldiers have increased res-ect for him now that he has served amongst them, and he was clearly so happy doing so, it's what he trained to do."

An MoD spokesperson said: "This decision has been taken primarily on the basis that the worldwide media coverage could impact on the security of those who are deployed there, as well as the risks to him as an individual soldier."

Defence Secretary Des Browne said: "I'm delighted that Prince Harry has had the opportunity to serve on operations.

"In common with all the other British soldiers in Afghanistan he has done so with courage and distin-ction.

"The British media have shown great restraint in not reporting his deployment.

"And I would like to thank them for doing so.

"It is, however a great pity that the news has now been broken by media overseas."

PLEASE NOTE: Comments posted on this story on Friday were deleted by mistake. We apologise for this error,