In the first of a three-part series about her trip to the former Yugoslavia, Telegraph & Argus reporter JOANNE EARP looks at the daily tasks of British soldiers in the region

The killing may have stopped but the scars of civil war are still visible, whether it be in the shape of a burned-out building or the red rags warning of land mines.

The size of the task confronting the NATO-led Stabilisation Force (SFOR), which involves 35,000 troops from 36 countries, is enormous.

For the 500-strong British contingent based in Mrkonjic Grad, a town in western Bosnia ripped apart by four years of fighting, they are faced with a problem of ensuring people are allowed to set about rebuilding their homes and lives in peace.

Each British squadron based in Mrkonjic Grad covers its own region. For the Armoured Squadron of the Royal Dragoon Guards (RDG) that means patrolling 1,400sqkm of land in an area known as the 'Anvil'.

The area includes more than 100 villages and hamlets, which are home to Serbian and Federation populations.

The western town of Glamoc was one of the key battle zones, where the Croat assault during the summer of 1995 triggered a mass exodus of up to 20,000 people. All that remains today are burned-out buildings.

The Anvil also houses a small RDG base 1,200m above sea level known as Cold Hussar. Bears roam the countryside and during the winter temperatures drop to an average of -30. Only Ice Station Zebra nearby on the Vitorog Ridge is higher and colder.

Although Cold Hussar sits on the Inter Entity Boundary Line (IEBL), SFOR troops stationed at the outpost are keen to ensure neither the Serbs nor the Croats think of it as a border.

RDG Sergeant, Timothy George said: "This has been one of the most heavily-fought over areas. Most of the population were either killed or fled the area. Now we have a situation where Serbian refugees are living in the Muslim/Croat Federation and vice-versa. Many refugees want to return to their villages and we have to make sure they are allowed to do that in peace."

On paper the IEBL is a stretch of land 2km wide but SFOR is trying to encourage people to mingle in the middle.

Sgt George said: "The villagers realise what we are trying to do. They are always pleased to see us and greet us with open arms.

"They know what will happen if SFOR pulls out, but it is no good them becoming dependent on us. We've had people knocking on the door and asking for lifts - that's not why we are here. If these people want peace they will have work at it too."

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.