KENT-BASED soldier Paul Kelly has been decorated with the Military Cross by the Queen at a Buckingham Palace investiture for his actions during the war in Iraq.

Sergeant Kelly, 36, from Howe Barracks, Canterbury, was serving with The 1st Battalion of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders when he twice repelled enemy attacks.

He was involved in a attack on Iraqi gunmen and held them off in two separate battles despite being shot in the hand.

His citation commended him for "exemplary leadership" and being "truly inspirational to those around him".

Sgt Kelly, of The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment, was hit in the hand in March this year when his patrol attempted to rescue another patrol that was under attack in the Qal At Salih.

One of the patrol's vehicles was ripped apart by a rocket-propelled grenade that injured a soldier.

The soldier fired using his good arm and was believed to have hit a number of the gunmen.

The previous month he led a charge against fighters and helped catch two insurgents.