SOLDIERS from Worcestershire are flying out to Afghanistan leaving friends and family in a state of mixed emotion.

Pride, joy and worry are just some of the words used to describe what they are feeling as they face another anxious six months hoping their loved ones serving with 2nd Battalion Mercian Regiment (Worcesters and Foresters) return unharmed from Helmand province. One of those is June Barker whose 25-year-old son Corporal Les, of Callow End, has already left for another tour. She said: “I didn’t really want him to go but it is his job. He lives for the Army. He is my pride and joy at the moment.”

Lance Corporal Matthew Bourne flew out on Friday for his second tour of the war-torn country. His mum Carolyn, of Droitwich, said even though he has already found the time to send her an e-mail, make a phone call and write a letter, it will be a nerve-wracking six months for her.

“I’m a bit more worried this time because it seems to be a bit more dangerous,” she said. “I know they are doing a lot more mentoring of the Afghan Army so perhaps it won’t be as bad. We just have to keep our fingers crossed.”

We previously reported in your Worcester News how about 550 Mercians are swapping the comfort of Palace Barracks in Belfast, Northern Ireland, for the scorching sunshine, sweltering temperatures and dusty deserts of Helmand province.

Their return to front-line action comes just 17 months after the end of a gruelling six-month tour of Afghanistan in 2007, during which nine Mercian soldiers lost their lives in action and many more were injured.

This time they have been given the role of mentoring and partnering about 5,000 members of the Afghan National Army (ANA). As a result soldiers have spent part of their training learning about the Afghan culture, history and language so they can communicate with their counterparts in the fight against Taliban insurgents.