A METAL box, surrounded by deep snow, on the top of a Bosnian mountain is the 'home' of Warrington soldier Corporal Mark Richards.

It's a long way from his comfortable house in Great Sankey, where he lives with his parents Bernard and Nora.

Mark, aged 28, and two colleagues from the Royal Signals are stationed at Bosnia's highest camp, where they are responsible for an Army communications station.

The soldiers are part of a NATO peace keeping force. They live, eat and sleep in a windowless metal container, eight ft by 20 ft, on Mount Ivovik - but they are thoroughly enjoying themselves.

Mark said: "We are left alone to get on with the job, which is basically making sure that radios and antennae are working. It does seem a bit bleak and the standard of living isn't high, but it's an experience to be completely self sufficient on top of a mountain."

When weather permits, Mark and his colleagues have to drive down the mountain to a military base to take a shower. "We have a field cooker, in a tent outside the container. We're knee deep in snow and the field cooker tends to blow out, so we've been living off tuna sandwiches and microwave meals for the past few weeks. It's good fun looking after ourselves."

Mark finishes his six month tour of duty in May when he hopes to get back to Warrington to see his parents.

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