A SOLDIER from Bolton who has returned home after six months in Iraq says the army is making a difference in the war-torn country.

Territorial Army Trooper Gareth Bond returned home this month after six months serving in the north of Basra.

A trained mechanic, Gareth joined the TA to do his bit in the fight against terrorism in the wake of the attacks on the twin towers in New York on September 11, 2001.

But he says his experience in Iraq was more about helping the Iraqi people than fighting terrorists.

"We were making a difference and helping people to sort out the country. It was a really good feeling," said Gareth, aged 22, from Horwich.

"I had only seen Iraq on the news and I was a bit nervous before I went out but everything went really well."

Gareth was deployed with the Royal Mercian and Lancastrian Yeomanry on April 21 after three months of intensive field and combat training.

As part of his six-month tour of duty he had to go on regular patrols of the area to flush out insurgents.

Gareth said: "We were doing patrols and making sure the streets were safe and that there were no gunmen around."

He said that during his time in Basra his brigade arrested about eight suspected terrorists and most Iraqis were happy to see them.

The former St Joseph's High School pupil, said his family were worried about him but he managed to speak to them over the phone on a weekly basis.

"My mum and dad were OK, they sent me parcels with chocolate and gifts all the time. They weren't too worried because I always told them what was going on and I was lucky to have a very steady service."

When Gareth - who works for the Horwich-based family company, Bonds Tyres and Exhausts, left for Iraq, his dad had a staffing nightmare. But since his arrival home, he has put his mechanic's overalls back on.