ROYAL Artillery Captain Karen Noonan is set to return to her Bicester family after seeing action on the front line in Iraq - and her mother is ready to welcome her with open arms.

The former student of Hertford College, Oxford, has been fighting rebel forces in Basra for more than six months.

On Bank holiday Monday she returned to her regiment's base at Hohne, near Hanover, Germany - where she must spend a few days before jetting back to Oxfordshire to see her family.

Capt Noonan, of 3rd Regiment Royal Horse Artillery, last week spoke via satellite phone.

The 28-year-old said her tour of duty had been both exciting and fascinating - but that she was looking forward to coming home.

She said: "We have been responsible for firing shells back at the militants, who regularly target our base near Basra with rockets and mortars.

"My job is to pinpoint exactly where the enemy is situated. To do this we use everything from radar, to unmanned air vehicles, to the naked eye.

"Our base has been hit by more than 300 rockets over the last six months, so it's fantastic to be able to fire back and take the fight to the enemy.

"It's what I joined up to do. I'm right up there, embedded with the infantry or cavalry, to find and destroy enemy targets with artillery, mortars and aircraft."

Capt Noonan, who has experienced being under direct enemy fire while out on patrol, said the climate in Iraq was unpredictable and changed from day to day.

She explained: "Our role totally changes as to the atmosphere in the city, what operations are going on and the current political situation.

"We are living here and have to react to situations as they happen."

Capt Noonan said: "At the moment I am most looking forward to a sun lounger and a pina colada. But it's been a long time away and I am also looking forward to seeing friends and family."

Capt Noonan's mother, Heather, from Byron Way, Bicester, said: "We feel immensely proud that Karen is serving her country. I can't wait to see her."