WHEN Dave Saich was called to the office, he thought it was just another routine job.

But the 47-year-old employee at the British American Tobacco factory in Southampton was soon proved wrong.

Dave, who has been with the seed-to-smoke company at Millbrook for 26 years, is now hundreds of miles away on a top assignment.

He has been sent out to a sister plant in Serbia for three weeks to train workers there in forklift truck driving.

Dave is already responsible for the specialist training in Southampton, having passed an instructor's course last year, and he also oversees all the materials handling equipment on site.

He said: "When I was called to the office last week, I thought it was for just another routine job. How wrong I could be.

"Having recently received medical attention to have my jaw lifted and put back in place, I still managed a 'yes'."

The expert will also be fitting in some sightseeing during his stay in the Balkans.

A BAT spokesman said: "Dave is one of many Southampton-based employees who visit BAT factories all over the world to support high standards of training upheld by the company."