A FORMER soldier from Bury who heroically tackled a rifle-carrying drunk has found a new career working on the largest windfarm in Europe.

Liam Howarth, aged 31, from Greenmount, served in the British Army around the world in countries such as Iraq, Kosovo and Canada for seven-and-a-half years.

After leaving, Mr Howarth worked in security at hospitals, and in December 2009 hit the headlines when he pinned a man down at North Manchester Hospital in Crumpsall, who had arrived at the accident and emergency department with a rifle down his trousers.

In April, he heard of an opportunity for ex-military personnel to retrain in the wind energy industry.

He is currently working on the construction of the 160-turbine Gwynt y Môr offshore windfarm in North Wales, near Llandudno.

Mr Howarth works on a two-week on, two-week off scale, returning to his home in Bury regularly.

He said: “I have had a background in engineering in the army. I took a few courses and thought it could be the right job for me.

“I loved it in the army, but it is good to experience new things because the army was all I knew. I joined at 17 after leaving college.”

Twelve ex-service person-nel, including Mr Howarth, have been assigned to wind turbine projects organised by offshore wind training providers Maersk Training and 3sun Group, who provide products to the energy industry.

Mr Howarth says he knows a lot of his colleagues have struggled to find work and re-integrate after leaving the army, but now he believes he has found a job for life.

He added: “It is hard. There is not a lot of help out there, and the jobs that are out there all want experience.

“I am really enjoying it. I want to work my way up. I would recommend it to others leaving the army.”