EASTLEIGH soldier Private Paul Spranger has a vital role in Kosovo - keeping the Nato troops and equipment moving.

Paul, 24, is a member of 17 Port & Maritime regiment, Royal Logistics Corps, based just outside the troubled province's capital, Pristina, and ensures the Kosovo Peace Implementation Force (K-FOR) gets to its destinations on time.

Paul joined the Army two years ago and had already been to the Balkans, seeing service in Bosnia. He said: "When I came into Kosovo I was upset by the number of cars and houses that had been destroyed, but I thought there would be more damage.

"The local people are all very friendly, especially the children, who are continually waving and shouting 'Nato, Nato'.

"We are teaching some of them to speak English." But there is one drawback - Paul misses mum Eileen's cooking.

His dad, Oliver, who works as a prison officer, formerly served in the Army as a warrant officer in the Royal Corps of Transport and his brother is a lance corporal serving with the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers.

Paul hopes to join the regimental boxing team when he returns to England.

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