THE heatwave scorching Britain is nothing for an RAF woman who has just returned from Iraq - where she had to cope with temperatures up to 150F.

Rachel Hewlett's time in the former war zone had seen her moving across the Middle East map.

The 22-year-old senior aircraftwoman had served a month in the United Arab Emirates as a personnel administrator and was due to come home in April when she was redeployed north to Kuwait.

She then spent until June in Kuwait working with the Army, Navy and Air Force to keep track of some of the 58,000 coalition troops, sorting out travel arrangements and other personal affairs. Then she went to Iraq itself.

"I remember when we were crossing the Kuwait-Iraq border, it was the most heart-rending thing I've had to do as the locals had respect for us and really wanted us to be there," said Rachel, of Meadow Road, Claines, Worcester.

In the southern city of Basra, she had to sleep in an airport terminal where temperatures reached as 150F (51.3C).

"It was absolutely boiling, the most intense heat I've ever experienced," she said. "It was so hot, I just couldn't sleep at night."

During her time there, she also bumped into her sister Sarah's husband - twice.

Cpl Douglas Butcher was serving in the Army in Kuwait and Basra.

But now the former Bishop Perowne C of E High School student is glad to be back home.

"When I was told I was going out there, I was quite nervous and anxious really," she said.

"I was quite surprised how risky it was, going up north.

"It was an amazing experience but I realise, with all of the people getting shot now, how lucky and glad I am to be back home."

British forces took Basra on Tuesday, April 8, after a two-week siege of Iraqi soldiers loyal to Saddam Hussein.

Two thousand troops, backed by 40 tanks, then set about restoring law and order.

Three British soldiers were reported to have been killed, along with an unknown number of Iraqis.