Bomb expert's a record breaker

A BOMB disposal expert from the Capital has defused a record number of improvised explosive devices in Afghanistan.

Warrant Officer Class 2 Iain Martin cleared 12 IEDs in one day, all within 300 metres of each other on the Bandi Barq Road in the Gereshk area of Helmand province.

The devices ranged in size from five to 15kg and were designed to be set off by vehicles and troops on foot.

WO2 Martin, 39, based at the Scottish army HQ at Craigiehall, serves with the Royal Logistic Corps.

He said: "Our reward came when we had finished and an Afghan family came up on to the road with their herd of goats, looking around like they hadn't trodden on the land in years. The local people have confidence in us and our work to improve their lives, and that's a great feeling."

Commanding Officer of the Counter-IED task force, Lieutenant Colonel Mark Davis GM, said the bravery of his bomb disposal teams "never fails to amaze me".

He added: "We know we are having a positive effect, not just for our own troops but also for local Afghans."