FOUR engineers employed by Halcrow to help rebuild Iraq met Prime Minister Tony Blair during his recent visit to the country.

The engineers, who cannot be named for security reasons, form part of the Swindon-based firm's 14-strong team. It includes three people from Swindon, are currently overseeing the refurbishment of large public buildings in and around Basra.

Renovation projects have ranged from smaller offices for social care services to the rehabilitation of Basra's second hospital, with the company hiring more than 1,000 Iraqis to carry out the work.

Halcrow has been working in the country since May, and is one of the few British firms to have been awarded a contract to help re-build the country.

Working independently of the British military, the company has employed tight security to protect staff from any Iraqi resistance it might encounter.

Said spokesman Garry Whitaker: "We were delighted. It was a great surprise for our team to be invited to meet with the Prime Minister."