THREE North-East Territorial Army soldiers will join the organisation's first medical unit to be stationed in the Balkans since the Second World War.

Chester-le-Street GP Captain Geoff Crackett, Willington transport manager Lance Corporal Anthony Hart, and driver Lance Corporal Derek Davison, of Peterlee, east Durham, will serve in Bosnia for six-months.

They will join 68 other members of the Sunderland-based 251 Field Ambulance, providing primary healthcare for the multi-national brigade in Bosnia and Kosovo.

Capt Crackett, 37, a father-of-three, said: "I am looking forward to it and feel it will provide lots of new experiences and challenges."

L Cpl Hart, 32, joined the TA two years ago after serving in the regular Army for six years. He will be in charge of the armoury in Bosnia.

He said: "When I left the Army, I missed the comradeship - it is a way of life and you make friends whom you trust with your life."

L Cpl Davison, a combat medical technician, is studying for his second level qualification prior to the tour. The father-of-three said: "I will be able to put my skills into practice when I go out to Bosnia."

Commanding Officer Lieutenant Colonel Gerry McBride said: "The Sunderland medics will be the first TA medical unit to be mobilised to serve in the Balkans for nearly 60 years.

"We will man medical and ambulance detachments and provide a blue light emergency cover using a fully-equipped battlefield ambulance.

"For most of our soldiers, this is completely different from what they do in their normal civilian work."