POSTIE Shaun Williams has taken on a challenging new round - delivering mail to front-line troops in Afghanistan.

Shaun, aged 50, is one of eight Royal Mail staff, all members of the Territorial Army's Royal Logistic Corps, currently on a tour of duty in Afghanistan.

For the next nine months he will help run postal services for troops as a member of the 88 Postal and Courier Regiment.

Mr Williams, who works as a project manager at Royal Mail's delivery office, in Calvin Street, Bolton, has been with the company for 20 years and has served in the TA for 19 years, most recently as a warrant officer.

But Kabul and Kandahar are a far cry from the streets of his home town.

Mr Williams, who travelled to Afghanistan this month, said: "It's going to be very busy and I hope to be able to improve the service for the troops and, above all, stay safe."