AN EXHIBITION of photographs taken by the British Army's former chief press photographer during the early stages of the war in Iraq has gone on display at the Museum of Army Flying in Middle Wallop.

Giles Penfound was embedded with the Royal Irish Regiment for almost two years from the invasion of Iraq in 2003. The exhibition is made up of his photographs zof soldiers' work during operations and combat as well as their day-to-day lives.

Colonel Tim Collins, made famous for giving a rousing speech to soldiers on the eve of invasion - but who has now left the Army - opened the exhibition and is featured in the pictures.

He said: "There is something about the still photo that allows you to dwell on an image. The art is vitally important and this is a great collection of war photography."

"The first pictures were taken in 2003 and they encapsulate what we found just after we had taken the lid off Saddam's Iraq."

The exhibition was dedicated to the memory of Royal Engineers Staff Sergeant Chris Muir, who features in a photo, but was killed the day after it was taken while defusing an unexploded bomb.

Mr Penfound said: "I am deeply honoured to have worked with these soldiers; they worked unbelievably hard in the most difficult circumstances, with heart and extreme professionalism.

"There are moments in life you look back on and say I was there', and Colonel Tim Collins' inspirational speech was one of them.

"Looking back, I feel a whole range of emotions, obviously sadness for the people involved, but it was also incredibly exciting, and to be able to record what's going on in that situation was a great honour."

The collection also features displays of graffiti drawn on the walls of a complex of buildings Marines used while away from their main base.

The exhibition will run at the Museum of Army Flying in Middle Wallop until March next year, and is free to all visitors of the museum.