HIGH up in the Cumbrian hills, the crack of a gun is heard and the bullet whistles through the air.

This could be any desolate, windswept war zone and for a second the tension is palpable.

It's only the laughter that follows and the fact that someone is handing me a plate of what looks like "bully beef" stew that makes it obvious this is not the real thing.

For now though, the firing ranges of Warcop training camp are a place of work for 116 soldiers from the Tyne Tees TA regiment, who have given up their regular jobs in preparation for peace-keeping duties in Iraq.

Here, they are undergoing "beat-up training" - live weapons handling and firing, battle skills and vehicle search procedures - before their deployment.

Everyone is in good humour, but also wary of the possible dangers ahead.

Major Steve Hopper, officer in command of the company that is leaving for Iraq, said the training was designed to be as realistic as possible but recognised that, however well prepared, their duties in the Gulf will be something new for many of the soldiers.

He said: "The soldiers will be mounting 24-hour operations, seven days a week - sometimes in temperatures of up to 50 degrees.

"We will be rotating people through various locations and their jobs will change from day to day, from guarding the headquarters of government buildings to being out on patrol and providing armed escorts."

Lieutenant Paul Hindmarch, 28, from Barton, near Darlington, said the recent deaths of British soldiers in Iraq had "focused minds".

He added: "We are all taking this pretty damn seriously, while at the same time being confident in the task that we have got to do."

Private Jim Lawton, 25, from Redcar, east Cleveland, a double glazing fitter by trade, said soldiers had been issued with cards detailing key Iraqi phrases in a bid to break down any language barriers.

"I am confident, but we have just got to make sure we are extra safe when we are out there," saids Pte Lawton.

Lance Corporal Mark Horner, 40, from Darlington, said: "We have got some sensible lads here, a good range of ages and a variety of experience.

"We will have to be aware of our surroundings and the bigger picture when we're on the streets of Iraq, but the training - which has been superb - will soon kick in.

"As it gets closer though, the things you see on television bring home what the dangers potentially are."

The Tyne Tees regiment was formed in 1999 from the 4th and 5th Green Howards (North Yorkshire), 6th Royal Fusiliers (Northumberland) and the 7th Light Infantry (Durham).

The regiment's commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Ian McFarlane, said: "Six weeks ago, we were tasked to identify a rifle unit to be formed and sent out to Iraq, who now have an opportunity to put the many skills they have into practice.

"The soldiers know each other well and the fact that they will be commanded by our own people means they can play to their strengths."

Catch the al-Majar killers, urges ex-Red Cap

A FORMER North Yorkshire Red Cap who lost his legs in a bomb explosion last night urged the Army to track down the al-Majar killers.

Andy Mudd, a staff sergeant with the Royal Military Police - known as the Red Caps - was injured by an IRA bomb that blew up outside his home.

The former soldier, who comes from Knaresborough, North Yorkshire, described the Iraqi deaths as tragic.

He said: "I think it is a tragic thing to be killed in that way. It is a criminal act rather than a war action. It's got to be sorted out quickly then everyone can go back to normal."

He added: "The Royal Military Police (RMP) are always the first ones in and the last ones out. They are forgotten about a lot but they are crucial - it's a team effort.

"The SAS, the Paras and other units are very high profile. They are in the news a lot and everyone is talking about them, but there are other people out there too, the recovery people, the RMP, the nurses and medics - lots of people that we forget.

"They all do invaluable work to make sure the high profile units can do their job."

Mr Mudd, who battled for six years for compensation, said warfare had changed since he left the services in 1996.

He said: "This is modern policing and warfare, you have to sort things out afterwards. The RMP are training new police and finding out how their police operated before.

"It is difficult for people to watch television and relate to what's going on out there in Iraq now. Twenty years ago, we were talking about the Iron Curtain and the Russians, now it's Bosnia and Iraq - these are different types of warfare. In my day, it was Northern Ireland and the Russians in Germany."