Shrewsbury Chronicle journalist James Holt has told how he came under fire ten times during a press trip to Iraq.

James, (24), flew out to Basra for a six-day trip and while there was embedded with troops, witnessing their work first hand.

During his stay he learned of the deaths of two soldiers from Shropshire barracks, becoming one of the first journalists to hear.

And on the day he returned home four soldiers were injured in the worst mortar attack the base he had been staying at had seen.

James said: "During the time I was there, there were ten mortar attacks on the camp.

"I stayed at two different camps, one was at Basra air station and the other was in the Maysan province."

James, the Chronicle's news editor, filed copy for both the weekly paper and sister daily, the Shropshire Star, reporting on his experiences and telling of the soldiers' determination to carry on despite the tragedies.

He had to carry or be within reaching distance of his body armour at all times and faced temperatures of more the 40 degrees.

He said: "My experience in Iraq was a simple six-day snapshot of what goes on.

"I happened to be there for one of the bloodiest weeks the British Army has seen in a long while. But I'm now back home.

"For me it was an intense experience that is extremely difficult to comprehend.

"For every friend and family member concerned about my trip, there are countless others thinking about their loved ones being in one of the toughest environments on earth for six months and longer.

"The dedication and courage was quite notable. My six days wasn't easy, but to make it sound like a terrible ordeal undermines the difficult work thousands of young men and women do."

Chronicle editor John Butterworth said: "I think James was more in the thick of it than he thought he was going to be.

"He did a superb job."