An Ashford soldier is off to Afghanistan on a three-month tour of duty with the 2nd Battalion of the Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment.

Private Andrew Gibson is among those being deployed on Operation Herrick, taking over from soldiers serving with the Battalion’s A Company.

He has been training in earnest in the past few months in Cyprus where the soaring temperatures have put been him and his colleagues in good stead for life in Afghanistan.

For Private Gibson, 18, who has served with B Company 2 PWRR for two years, this will be his first overseas tour.

He said: “I am looking forward to this tour and the experience I will gain out there. I will miss all the special people to me back home but will be taking plenty of home comforts with me including my laptop, iPod, photographs and letters.”