THE landlord of the Tavern on the Hill pub, dubbed Britain's Hardest in a TV programme, is back from serving in Iraq and says he is determined to eradicate the pub's undeserved East End, bad boy image.

Rob Richie, 47, said that while stationed in Iraq he had to fly from Baghdad and back in 24 hours to sack the people running his pub in Higham Hill Road, Walthamstow.

The sergeant major served in Iraq with the Royal Logistics Corp for six months last year, carrying out the role of a diplomatic courier, risking life and limb to deliver top secret documents across enemy lines.

The landlord said he was disappointed his pub was portrayed in a bad light on Sky One's latest series, Britain's Hardest, when he was stationed in Iraq during the Gulf conflict, and may be seeking legal advice.

He said: "This is no way Britain's hardest pub. We are having a singles night on Valentine's Day that's how hard this pub is."

One of the Kray twins is rumoured to have stayed the night at the pub during their infamous reign of terror, but Mr Richie says he is keen to create a "family atmosphere".

He said: "I have re-decorated the pub, and the brewery is finally taking an interest in it."

Mr Richie said he was demobilised on Monday and is happy to be home in Walthamstow but has some great memories from his time in Iraq.

He said: "I flew over Paris in a Hercules and had a great view of the Eiffel Tower."

He has served with the Army since 1976 and explained that his time in Iraq was spent in a peace-keeping role.

"I gave weapons instruction and taught how to manage dangerous situations," he said.

"Two soldiers have since thanked me for the training I gave them. Their vehicle was ransacked in Basra, and they were facing a mob.

"But they said through the training I gave them they were able to deal with the situation safely and calmly.

"Iraq is not like Northern Ireland. If you point a gun at an Iraqi he will run at you."

Mr Richie spent his first two months in Iraq sleeping under mosquito nets on the tarmac of Basra airport, living in 66-degree temperatures, but he said his team were then lucky enough to move into air-conditioned tents.

Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon has faced heavy criticism from British troops who claimed they were ill-equipped in Iraq.

But Mr Richie said: "I think our kit was OK. But I think we were not well prepared or trained enough to go out there. There was a lack of military skills like anti-ambush techniques, and we had no vehicle-to-vehicle radio."

The soldier says though that he thinks most people enjoyed their time in Iraq: "It was a new experience for all of us. We were welcomed by the Iraqi people and the rapport with the local kids was good.

"They ran shouting around the vehicles and were very excited about the water and sweets we were throwing to them."

Mr Richie said the Army had no plans to send him back to Iraq just yet and he is going to make the most of running a successful family pub.