WIDNES soldier Mike Giblin as been shooting lasers while serving with the Queen's Lancashire Regiment.

The 19-year-old hasn't been fighting in a James Bond film, but taking part in the in ultra-modern training in Canada.

Mike was one of hundreds of soldiers from across the North West taking part at the army's Camp Suffield base.

Part of the three-month long training involves using laser guns instead of conventional weapons.

When a soldier is 'shot' by the laser gun, his equipment stops working rendering him 'dead' for the rest of the game.

Mike's regiment has a long history, which includes fighting for real in Canada.

They trace their history back to the raising of Castleton's regiment in York in 1689, and they fought in the battle of Quebec in 1759, during the war against the French.

Mike and the rest of his regiment will be coming home in October.

He said: "This is the best thing I have done since joining the army. It's as near to the real thing as you can get."

Picture: Widnes soldier Mike Giblin (left) and with his colleagues (above) taking part in modern day army training exercises in Canada

PICTURES by PHIL RADCLIFFE