Newspaper editor Malcolm Hoddy has become one of the first regional press journalists allowed into Iraq after the 'world changing elections' at the end of January.

Malcolm, who edits Newsquest's Keighley News, went on a week long trip to Basrah, Southern Iraq, to meet servicemen and women from the circulation areas of a number of titles published by the group.

Malcolm said: "From January, you now have to have a visa to travel to Iraq. Going to the Iraqi Embassy in London was the first part of the adventure with a difference."

Malcolm (left), with his interpreter

Once in Iraq Malcolm, accompanied by civilian Army press officers, was taken to three bases to meet the troop from the Duke of Wellington's Regiment, the Royal Dragoon Guards and the Territorial Army's East & West Riding Regiment.

They also went out on several patrols and stopped to talk to residents about their feelings.

Malcolm filed copy for the Telegraph & Argus in Bradford, the York Evening Press and The Northern Echo as well as a number of weekly titles.

He said: "It was obviously a war risk area and we had to wear body army and helmets - but at no time did I feel threatened.

"It was slightly worrying however when the interpreter had to wear a Hannibal Lecter type mask to prevent him being identified.

"While we were there a member of the Ba'ath party was killed. We went to the scene and the children were trying to sell the shell cases for a dollar."

He also described the conditions there as like "stepping back into the dark ages".

Malcolm said: "Many of the streets are a carpet of filth - there's no litter collections - and raw sewage was running down channels.

"All that said there was a feeling of something positive in the air. The people I spoke to were very friendly and in the main happy. The kids were brilliant, wanting to show us their schoolbooks.

"Things are slowly getting better day by day. There's a lot of work to be done to put right 30 years of neglect. For example there's ordnance lying around from the Iran-Iraq war, let alone recent military operations.

"It was hard to image that for a few days you were witnessing the birth - hopefully - of a new democracy."