HE may have been 8,000 miles from his constituency, but it was always business as usual for New Forest West MP Desmond Swayne.

Mr Swayne, a Major in the Territorial Army, completed a five-month tour of duty in Iraq last year. However, the politician did not allow his military service to interfere with his work as an MP.

A satellite dish attached to his computer allowed him to send and receive e-mails throughout his stay in Nasiriyah.

Mr Swayne was honoured by New Forest Council for maintaining a service to constituents during his absence.

He was presented with an engraved council tankard by chairman John Hutchins, who also gave Mr Swayne's wife, Moira, a basket of flowers. The MP said: "I used to spend a couple of hours a day on e-mails. It was 55 degrees in August and September and I often had to wait until the evening because it was too hot during the day for my computer."

Mr Swayne paid tribute to the council, adding: "About 60 per cent of the letters I receive from residents are about council-related matters. I knew that if I asked a council officer to review something raised by a constituent it would be dealt with thoroughly and properly."