A BLOGGING Ipswich soldier and councillor has taken up Twittering to communicate while on frontline duty in Afghanistan.

A BLOGGING Ipswich soldier and councillor has taken up Twittering to communicate while on frontline duty in Afghanistan.

Alasdair Ross, ward councillor for Rushmere, is using the new internet phenomenon, micro-blogging site Twitter, to let people know what he's up to in the battle zone.

Writing on his blog, Mr Ross says: “I have arrived now in Camp Bastion via Kandaha, and hot during the day but we have had rain and now windy. Training hard, not much rest.”

Yesterday, he wrote: “Hot and dusty in Camp Bastion this morning, but I leave here today - will miss the comforts of this place, they even have a pizza hut!”

Mr Ross spent 24 years with the infantry regiment, Royal Green Jackets, serving on the frontline in various battle zones such as Northern Ireland and Kosovo.

When he retired at 40, he got a job at Ipswich School coaching sports and then joined the Labour party, before being elected as a ward councillor last year.

But when, at 46, he got a call to return to duty, he agreed straight away.

It meant returning to his former regiment, now known as the 2nd Battalion, The Rifles, based in County Down, Northern Ireland, to undertake a three-month training course to get him up to speed with any changes while refreshing his skills.

Mr Ross, of Lonsdale Road, said: “I never thought I would be called up again. I was asked if I was interested in coming back and feel it is my duty. I believe we are doing a good job in Afghanistan.”

To keep up with Mr Ross's activities in Afghanistan visit www.twitter.com/leftwingsoldier.

The Evening Star is also on Twitter. For breaking news visit twitter.com/eveningstar24.

Have you joined Twitter? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich IP4 1AN or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk.

Click here to see Mr Ross' Twitter page