An emergency medical technician from Beccles has swapped the warmth and comfort of his ambulance for the dangers of the Afghanistan frontline.

Robert Willis is currently working as a frontline medic in the Babaji district, after going to the Helmand Province with the Territorial Army (TA).

The former Notre Dame High School student is responsible for the treatment of the infantry soldiers from C Company 2 SCOTS, who he lives alongside.

Private Willis, 24, is part of the 254 Medical Regiment TA and has been attached to the Colchester-based 16 Close Support Medical Regiment since March 2010.

He had to undertake six months of working and training before being ready to be deployed to Afghanistan.

As well as working on the frontline he has also spent time working in Lashkar Gar military hospital. Here he helped tend to injured soldiers and aided civilians who were injured in Taliban roadside bombs.

He said: 'Working in Lashkar Gar hospital was rewarding but hard. Unfortunately, Taliban roadside bombs don't care who stands on them, so on regular occasions I was treating young children.'

Pte Willis was able to return home for two weeks over Christmas to surprise his girlfriend Hannah Tuthill, but has two more months left on his tour.

'This can be a demanding job at times, both physically and mentally, but I am pushing through, as I know the lives of the blokes may depend on me,' he said.