SOLDIER Stephen Richardson is making a round trip of more than 7,000 miles to try and encourage others to follow his lead.

Private Richardson is spending a week in the area telling potential recruits about life with the Green Howards in Afghanistan.

The 21-year-old, from Gilling West, near Richmond, joined the regiment in 2000 and is now with the 1st Battalion on a six-month tour of duty in Afghanistan.

He is a member of B Company and helps enforce security in the Afghan capital, Kabul.

With a number of comrades he flew from Kabul to Britain last weekend to be part of a recruiting team that will be in North Yorkshire and on Teesside for the rest of the week, returning to Afghan-istan on Sunday.

Wearing his desert combat uniform, he is talking to young people about his role in Afghanistan.

"Kabul is a very war-scarred city, but the Afghan people are very friendly - especially the children, who crowd around us all the time," he said.

"We undertake all sorts of duties. One of the most exciting was when we undertook an arrest operation that captured eight people."

In Afghanistan, the Green Howards are working with the UN-mandated International Security Assistance Force, which is helping the Afghan Transitional Authority maintain security in Kabul and the surrounding areas.

Support Company is helping to train the Afghan National Army and other members of the 1st Battalion are in the north of the country at Mazar-e-Sharif as part of the UK Provincial Reconstruction Team.

There, they undertake civil affairs activities which are designed to help the Afghan Transitional Authority expand its influence in the provinces.