A SCHOOL bus driver from North Yorkshire is on a completely different - and dangerous - kind of journey.

Territorial Army soldier Private Angus Ashworth, 21, from Scarborough, is usually found driving teenagers to lessons, but he is now travelling in armed convoys around southern Iraq.

He is part of Cassino Company, a TA regiment serving with the Parachute Regiment near Basra, in southern Iraq.

The soldiers travel in armed convoys, leading the way for trucks carrying valuable cargoes, like water and food.

Pte Ashworth, who also works as a marine engineer back home in his father's factory, said: "Having unruly kids throwing bricks at you out here is really quite similar to the schools kids on the bus.

"I told some of the kids that I was going out to Iraq and they asked me if I was going on my holidays.

"I miss seeing the hills back home - it would be nice to see green again."

Private Andrew Thirkill, 19, from nearby Whitby, normally works in a supermarket at home. But he is a TA soldier with the Green Howards, A Company, and is also now in southern Iraq.

He said: "You have to see Iraq for yourself - I find it a reality check. It is like a totally different world, and you don't understand how people can live like that. It has been a great experience for me.

"Being in the TA gives you a chance to dip your toe in the water, I am enjoying it."