PRESTON based Territorial Army soldiers had more than a very nice day when they joined a cultural exchange in the USA.

In fact, members of the Fourth Battalion, The Queen's Lancashire Regiment, spent two weeks at Camp Ripley, in Minnesota, while their American counterparts travelled to Salisbury Plain, in Wiltshire.

Both groups relished the chance to work with their Nato colleagues. But it was the Americans who were pleasantly surprised - they expected rain and cold weather in England but, instead, the sun shone throughout the fortnight!

Across the Atlantic, almost 150 Lancashire troops were eating pizzas in Maine, just a mile from thriller writer Stephen King's home.

During their stay, the Lancashire lads and lasses witnessed anti-tank missiles and heavy artillery in action, as well as experiencing some close encounters with bears and wolves out in the field.

Preston soldier Private Kim How, 19, who joined the TA 12 months ago, said: "I really enjoyed camp, it was a great opportunity to train."

Craftsman Dave Rankin, 21, of Leyland, joined the TA 18 months ago. He said: "It was easy and very good fun, I thoroughly enjoyed it. I enjoyed showing the Americans our way of doing things. It was all new to them."

Student nurse Liz Flemming, from Leyland, joined the TA a few months ago. She said: "I went on annual camp to get some experience of being out in the field."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.