PARATROOPER Anthony Porter, 22, has returned from Iraq to be reunited with his family in Devizes.

Mr Porter, who has been serving with the 1st Battalion of the Parachute Regiment for 18 months, saw action in Basra and latterly Al Amara.

His mother, Julie Porter of Mayenne Place, said waiting to hear from her son in Iraq was agonising.

Divorcee Mrs Porter, 41, said: "I had panic attacks and lost weight. I couldn't read newspapers or watch the TV. I cried a lot and went through a very rough time.

"We are very close. He's my best friend as well as my son. There were several times when he rang me when he said morale was low.

"I sent him food parcels and multivitamins and I also told him about mundane things that had happened in Devizes, such as when there had been a fight at a pub in town or if someone he knew was up in court."

At times telephone contact was limited and on one occasion Mr Porter queued for two hours to call home at a time when American soldiers had been shot at by snipers.

Mr Porter, a former Devizes School pupil, returned home on Monday night to a hero's welcome from family and friends including his mother, his father, David Porter, who lives in Melksham, his 18-year-old sister Victoria, his grandmother Jean Rideout and his girlfriend, Clare Gaper, 21, of Avebury.

Mrs Porter, a chef, said: "I'm so proud of Anthony because he's come through it and he is pursuing the career he picked."

Mr Porter, who lost two stones in weight while serving in Iraq, said: "It was nice to know what was going on in Devizes while I was in Iraq. Even though it was mundane things it helped me to get through it."

Mr Porter was 20 kilometres away when six British military policemen were killed by Iraqis.

He said: "It was very scary. I wanted to be there to help my friends. They didn't have a lot of ammo and they needed help."

"The Iraqi people were very friendly and understood that we were trying to help. In some areas people were hostile and didn't like us being there but they preferred us to the Americans," he said.

l Mrs Porter would like a woman who gave her mother, Mrs Rideout, a ladies brooch belonging to the Parachute Regiment to get in touch.

She said: "She didn't leave her name. Her late husband was in the Parachute Regiment. Anthony was very touched when I showed him the brooch."

She is asked to contact Gazette reporters Jill Crooks or Lewis Cowen on (01380) 723501 who will put her in contact with Mrs Porter.