THREE people from County Durham are enjoying life in the Northern Gulf near Iraq.

Marine engineers Chris Mole and Paul Blackburn, both of Darlington, completed training on HMS Raleigh and HMS Sultan.

They have joined HMS Norfolk in Iraq for their year of sea training in order to qualify as watchkeepers.

Midshipman Helen Targett, from Crook, began basic training last September and joined the ship as an officer.

They said that the highlight so far had been conducting boarding operations in the Northern Arabian Gulf, preventing oil smuggling out of Iraq.

HMS Norfolk is patrolling coastal waters, protecting vital oil terminals and preventing oil smuggling.