LEARNING to sidestep tackles while playing rugby for Haresfinch helped Lee Simmons dodge a hail of bullets when he came under heavy fire from the Taliban on an army stint in southern Afghanistan.

Lee, a company signaller with the 3 Para Battle Group, was targeted by insurgents when he raced three times across an open battlefield to fix a failing communication line.

But the courageous 29-year-old, who used to play at centre for Haresfinch Amateur Rugby League Club, evaded the bullets, mortars and rocket propelled grenades that came his way and scrambled back to his post to engage a few Taliban targets of his own.

He explained: "I had to run across open ground to keep the communication lines open so we could call for helicopter back up. At one point a bullet whistled past my ear and hit a wall a couple of feet away from me. At the time I was just focused on doing my job, but when you think about it afterwards it does send a shiver down your spine."

Lee's 3 Para Battle Group faced some of the most ferocious fighting seen by British forces in a generation as they wrestled the strategic town of Musakal away from defiant Taliban forces.

It is estimated that his battalion alone fired 450,000 rifle and machine gun rounds, 7,500 mortar rockets and 4,000 light artillery rounds during their six-month tour of duty - figures which illustrate the intensity of the resistance they faced.

Since returning home, Lee, who is now safely back at his barracks in Catterick, has been awarded a special citation of merit for his brave sprint across Afghan soil. The former St Augustine's pupil has also become the youngest and lowest ranked officer ever to be awarded the prestigious Princess Mary Medal - the highest accolade within the corps of signallers - and has been promoted to sergeant.

Lee, of Harris Street, added: "After being involved in such heavy fighting it was pretty hard to adjust when we landed back in Britain. It was surreal.!"