TERRITORIAL Army Officer Marie Richter, from Blackburn, is normally a teaching sister at St Thomas Hospital in London but is currently spending six months working as a journalist for the multinational peace keeping force in Bosnia.

Marie, 36, is serving with the Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps as a Nursing Officer. She volunteered to do a six-month tour of duty with the army.

She said: "I volunteered to be a nurse in Sierra Leone but was not required so I came to Bosnia instead.

"When I arrived I was tasked to become a reporter with the SFOR Informer, which is the newspaper for the Multinational Stabilisation Force here in Bosnia.

"It was a steep learning curve because I had never done any sort of journalism and I was the only native English speaker.

"The paper is printed in English and French. There are six reporters of different nationalities and two photographers. Some days I have to be a photographer as well.

"Despite everything, I think I have one of the best jobs here because I travel all over the country to a variety of events. One day it can be a royal visit, the next a community de-mining project."

Marie went to Paddock House Grammar School and joined the TA in 1990. Her mother Anne lives in Blackburn.