AT the break of dawn, a Warrington Army officer was the first woman home in an unusual fun run.

Captain Kady Chatman, aged 25, won the fun run at Basra Air Station, Iraq, in an event to raise money for St Dunstan's charity for blind ex-service people.

The former Bridgewater High School pupil was one of more than 100 to brave the conditions.

She said: "I took part in the run for several reasons: it's for charity, I'm a firm believer in supporting people who go to the trouble of organising things.

"And when you're out here it's important to do something that's quite different from the day-to-day routine."

The race was held early in the morning, as temperatures reached a blistering 50 degrees at noon.

Cpt Chatman is working as a staff officer and media escort in the press information centre at the headquarters of the multi-national division in Basra.

She added: "Out here in Iraq I plan for and escort the media which can be the local media, national, international and regional media radio, TV and newspapers."

She is married to Captain Jim Chatman, Second-in-Command, of a signal squadron at Bramcote, Nuneaton. Parents Ted and Margaret Leather still live in Appleton Thorn.