FIFTEEN years ago, a North-East soldier who saved his comrades' lives during a Taliban ambush in war-torn Afghanistan was awarded one of the Army's highest honours in July 2008.

Sergeant John Mathew Cockburn, from Bedale, North Yorkshire, was presented with the Military Cross (MC) for his heroism in adversity.

Sgt Cockburn was one of two members of the 2nd Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment to receive the award, the other being Major Jason Little, originally from Richmond.

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The pair were among more than 20 from the regiment and 150 throughout the UK armed services to have their heroism in war zones recognised by defence chiefs.

As well as the MCs, two North-East men were posthumously mentioned in dispatches. Sergeant Lee Johnson, from Stockton, and Corporal Damian Lawrence, from Whitby, were killed in Helmand Province when their vehicle drove over a mine.

The Yorkshire Regiment's awards related to a six-month tour of duty in Afghanistan, earlier in 2008.

Sgt Cockburn was twice ambushed by Taliban fighters as his patrol led a convoy of more than 20 tanks into a dried-out riverbed, in Helmand Province, in April 2008.

While pinned down by heavy fire, he risked his life when he led his men to outflank the enemy, resulting in the lives of his fellow soldiers being saved.

The 27-year-old said: "Our job was to seek out enemy positions. We were first into the riverbed, when we were ambushed by the Taliban, so we withdrew.

"We regrouped and went back in, but it happened again."

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North East MPs rallied to Gordon Brown's support in the wake of another catastrophic by-election defeat for Labour, in July 2008.

Gordon Brown faced the fight of his political career following the loss of Glasgow East – Labour's third safest seat in Scotland and 25th safest in Britain – to the Scottish National Party.

At least one North-East MP expressed doubts about Mr Brown, but several others lined up to stand full square behind the premier.