Readers of the Wiltshire Times are being given a unique insight into events in Iraq thanks to one of the paper's regular columnists.

Westbury MP Andrew Murrison, who writes the column From Wiltshire to Westminster for the weekly newspaper, is currently serving in Iraq as a medical officer for the 40 Regiment Royal Artillery.

Naval medic Andrew is only the second MP in the country to be called-up for Iraq, where he is due to stay for a month, but he will continue to write for the newspaper during that time - renaming his column From Wiltshire to Westminster via Basra.

Instead of telling readers about the latest events from Parliament, he will recount life on the frontline and report on his work as a surgeon and the morale among the troops.

In his first column he told readers how he is currently enduring temperatures of up to 50C.

He said: "In the words of the TV character, 'It ain't half hot Mum!'. I'm told that temperatures in southern Iraq have fallen recently but they're still pushing 50 degrees, which presents huge challenges to our personnel.

"Iraqi people very wisely avoid the midday sun but you know what they say about mad dogs and Englishmen.

"Sky News tells me that our glorious English summer is finally at an end with the advent of cooler, wetter weather.­ I amdeeply envious."

Do you have a story about the regional press? Ring 0116 227 3122/3121, or
e-mail pastill@nep.co.uk