BURNLEY soldier Mark Wilkinson has just qualified as a mechanical engineer.

Mark, 19, who comes from the Lanehead area, has this week been back in town helping with recruitment at the Army careers office in Yorkshire Street.

As a student at Habergham High School, Burnley, Mark had no thoughts of joining the Army. He said: "I only considered it when I saw a flier in the Jobcentre.

"I have not regretted it for a minute. It has been brilliant so far."

Mark enlisted in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers in April, 1999, and has just qualified as a vehicle engineer working on Land Rovers, big trucks and small armoured vehicles.