AN armed forces recruiter has been awarded the long service and good conduct medal.

Light Infantry Sergeant Roy Steel, who is based at the armed forces careers office in Darlington, has received the medal for 15 years' service.

Sgt Steel enlisted into the Army in 1988.

After completing his basic training, he was posted to Hemer, West Germany, where he worked as a rifleman.

In March 1989, he was awarded the general service medal for his part in two tours to Northern Ireland and has served in the United States and Cyprus.

He has also completed exercises in Jordan and Kenya.

One of Sgt Steel's tasks was to instruct the army in Sierra Leone in basic infantry skills.

In June 2001, he was promoted to sergeant, and a year later was posted to the careers office in Darlington.

SgtSteel, who lives in Catterick, North Yorkshire with his wife and three children, said: "It is such an honour to be awarded the medal.

"Joining the Army was all I wanted to do after I left school, although I never imagined back then that I would be lucky enough to live and work in so many different places and to have such an exciting and varied career."

Major Mike Sherlock, head of Army recruiting across Teesside and Durham, said: "Sgt Steel is a worthy recipient of the medal. He has shown tremendous commitment and ambition in his 15 years with the Army, and has proved to be an asset to his regiment, and in recent years, to army recruitment in Darlington.

"Sergeant Steel is a fine example to potential recruits of what can be achieved in an Army career."