A STOCKTON sailor is on his way back to the UK after a long, hot patrol in the Persian Gulf.

Chief Petty Officer Weapon Engineering Artificer Nick Carter, 30, is on board Type 23 Frigate HMS Lancaster after four months in the Gulf.

While on board, Mr Carter has been maintaining the ship's firepower, including guns, close range weapons and small arms.

HMS Lancaster has been in the Gulf as part of the ongoing multi-national naval operation to enforce United Nations trade sanctions against Iraq.

The ship's boarding parties inspected 30 ships and five were found to be carrying illegal cargoes of crude oil.

In between patrols, the ship has been to the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.

Mr Carter, who has been in the Royal Navy since leaving Ian Ramsey School 14 years ago, was last in the Gulf two years ago when he was onboard HMS Birmingham.

He said: "I have been trying to avoid the sun this time. It lost its charm two years ago.

"The heat on HMS Birmingham was worse. The mess decks were a lot hotter."

On July 1, HMS Lancaster handed over her duties to sister ship HMS Northumberland and started on its 5,800 mile journey home to Portsmouth.

She will visit Cyprus, Scilly, Greece and Gibraltar before arriving home later this month.