Territorial Army soldiers from Keighley have returned home safe and sound from a tour of duty in Iraq.

The men from the Keighley Platoon of Ypres company Duke of Wellington's Regiment were among 30 soldiers drawn from the region's East and West Riding Regiment, who went to southern Iraq in June.

One of the platoon Private Matthew Hastings said: "It's brilliant to be back home. We are just so happy to be here."

In a special report to the Keighley News in July the soldiers told of life in Iraq working in temperatures of 50 degrees centigrade.

After two weeks of acclimatisation, the soldiers took up a full raft of duties, including patrolling both in vehicles and on foot, along with manning vehicle checkpoints.

The had to down between 8-10 litres of water a day to cope with the effects of the heat.

Matthew, who is studying engineering at university, said: "We were working in an infantry role on patrol.

The main task involved dealing with local crime and riots. Thankfully none of us suffered any injuries and we are all safe and sound." The platoon is on leave, but Matthew said most of them would be attending the Remembrance Day service in Keighley on Sunday.

The soldiers kept in touch with events back home through the Keighley News. A copy of the KN is posted to Iraq every week.

Matthew's mother Lynne said: "I am a very happy mum."