LOCAL soldiers serving in Northern Ireland are celebrating after reaching the half-way point of their over-seas tour.

Five hundred troops from the First Battalion of the Queen's Lancashire Regiment, which has its headquarters at Fulwood Barracks, have been in Ireland for three months helping the Royal Ulster Constabulary keep order in troubled South Armagh.

The Queen's Lancashire Regiment took over when the Devonshire and Dorset Regiment left in April.

Lance Corporal Jason Brooksbank, 28, from Deepdale, has been a soldier for seven years, and previously served in Belize, Canada, and Bosnia. Before joining the army, he went to Our Lady's High in Fulwood.

He said: "This is a very demanding position for the battalion but we know we are doing a worthwhile job protecting the local community, in support of the RUC."

Serving with Lance Corporal Brooksbank are seven other local boys -- Lance Corporal Paul Unsworth, Private Stuart Ledder, Pte Stephen Woods, Pte Jamie Whalley, Pte Sam Thompson, Pte Paul MacNamara and Pte Stuart Sullivan.

Because of unrest in the area, with higher levels of terrorism then anywhere else in Northern Ireland, movement by road is risky, and troops and supplies are moved around by helicopter.

Second in Command of the Lancashire infantry unit is Major Vaughn Kent-Payne. He said: "Soldiering in South Armagh is challenging, it's hard work but rewarding and the soldiers know just how vital their job is here.

"There is a great feeling of team spirit amongst the soldiers and officers which comes through being part of a county regiment.

"Many of the guys know each other from back home and there is a great deal of banter...particularly when the football's on!"