SOLDIERS from the region's largest Army garrison began returning from duties in Iraq yesterday.

The area around Basra, in the south of the Gulf state, has been patrolled by troops from 19 Mechanised Brigade since last June.

Most are based at North Yorkshire's Catterick Garrison, although artillery from Topcliffe and engineers from Ripon also wear the Black Panther badge.

Their role has been to help co-ordinate the reconstruction of Iraq's infrastructure.

Meanwhile, anti-looting and peace-keeping patrols in and around Basra, Abu Al Khasim and Al Zubayr and along the Kuwaiti border have also been part of the daily routine.

Temperatures have been as high as 67C, while soldiers have had to cope without running water and with constant interruptions to the power supply.

But, by the end of next month, most will be back home in North Yorkshire - although members of the Territorial Army's Tyne Tees Regiment will remain in Iraq until the new year.

The first to be welcomed home yesterday were members of the 1st Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderers, based at Catterick Garrison's Somme Barracks.

The troops worked with North Yorkshire neighbours, the King's Regiment, on patrols in Basra as well as around Al Ahamarah.

They also patrolled in the Maysan district of Iraq, where six military police officers were killed in rioting in June.