A brave Lowestoft teenager is leading the fight in Afghanistan to set up an ambulance service in the war torn country

Pte Megan Paynter, 19, is serving in Helmand province as a combat medical technician in 16 Medical Regiment.

The former Denes High School student has been training a group of Afghan nurses to help them launch the first ever professional ambulance service for the provincial capital Lashkar Gah.

Along with two other Royal Army Medical Corps medics Pte Paynter trained the Afghans over a nine day period in life saving techniques and how to take patients safely to hospital.

The main thrust of the course was making sure the Afghan nurses are competent enough to look after patients as the are taken to the province's main hospital.

As well as training the Afghan nurses Pte Paynter is providing essential life-saving treatment to injured British and coalition troops and civilians.

She said: 'We have a really good professional team. This is my first tour in which I am actually doing my job, from leading traumas to transferring them to local hospitals.

'I am getting a lot of experience here from trauma to primary health care.'

Pte Paynter is based at Colchester, Essex as part of 16 Air Assault Brigade and when not in uniform she enjoys running, football and travelling.

As well as training the British army is supporting the new ambulance service by donating �1,500 of medical equipment.