A SOLDIER from Bamber Bridge is preparing for a stint in Iraq by learning Arabic.

Private Neil Williams, from Longbrook Avenue, Bamber Bridge, is set to fly out to Basra with the Queen's Lancashire Regiment next month.

The 18-year-old trooper is part of a group from the first battalion, based in Catterick, training ready for a four-month tour of duty, keeping the peace and helping with humanitarian aid.

But one of the hardest parts of preparing for the Gulf is learning the language, and getting ready for the cultural differences.

"Every morning we have language training for an hour and we learn key phrases, sentences and numbers. It's so we can speak to the public when we are over there, it breaks the ice," said Pte Williams.

The soldier, who has been in the army 18 months, and his comrades face a test once a week on what they have learnedt.

"I'm getting on well," said Pte Williams, who went to Lostock Hall Community High School. "We're into our second week with it and some of the lads are really good.

"It's difficult learning a language in such a short space of time. I wasn't very good at languages at school, but when it means something, and you're putting it to use, you get on with it. It could save your life when you're out there."

Because of the heat, the troops are due to fly over in mid-June, to spend two weeks acclimatising to the change in temperature.

Captain John Harker, 38, said: "The boys are doing really well. They know the most important thing when they get out there will be getting the support of the Iraqi people."