Bicester soldiers have found a new home for an eight-year-old Iraqi orphan who was being looked after by their regiment.

Hussein with Private Dave Marshall

Hussein had been staying with the Bicester-based 23 Pioneer Regiment of the Royal Logistics Corp in the port city of Umm Qasr for more than two weeks after an American reporter, who had planned to adopt him, was forced to return home without the child.

Lieutenant Colonel Peter Jones, who is in charge of the regiment, took the boy in and the pioneers fed, clothed and befriended Hussein.

But in a combined effort between the Army, UNICEF, Save the Children and the Umm Qasr town council, a new home has been found for the boy with an Iraqi family who live in Umm Qasr.

It is believed the boy, who does not know how old he is, was in prison in Baghdad before the war.

The boy's father is dead and his mother ran away.

Lt Col Jones said: "He has settled down and is being looked after -- it was the right way it should happen."