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An Iraq War hero is selling his bravery medals for 40,000 so he can buy a house after leaving the army.

Colour Sergeant Martin Caines served three tours in Iraq and two in Afghanistan during 24 years in the military.

The Feltham dad is now on civvy street and needs to raise a deposit in order to buy a family home.

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The forthcoming sale of the father of two's George Medal once again calls into question the issue of war veterans having to sell their decorations so they can get on the property ladder.

Last month Afghan War hero Steven Gadsby sold his Conspicuous Gallantry Cross for over 100,000 so he could buy a house.

Sgt Caines received the prestigious award for calmly facing-down an angry mob of Iraqi army soldiers who turned on their British colleagues during a search patrol in 2006.

The native troops were angry and frustrated at a lack of supply of food and water for them as opposed to the well-resourced British.

The resentment culminated in a group of 15 soldiers opening fire on Sgt Caines' platoon, firing shots into the ground and above their heads.

The Iraqi ringleader then produced a sniper rifle and started shooting directly at the front of the British position.

Realising that if the men shot back it would lead to a bloody firefight, Sgt Caines got to his feet and stood within 50m of the gunmen with his own weapon lowered.

He stared down the barrel of the gun and a standoff ensued before the ringleader threw down his weapon and withdrew, resulting in an immediate change of atmosphere.

For his 'outstanding act of bravery' Sgt Caines was awarded the George Medal.

He has now put his medal group up for sale with London auctioneers Dix Noonan Webb.

Christopher Mellor-Hill, head of client liaison at Dix Noonan Webb, said: "Colour Sergeant Caines, as platoon leader, employed both clear-headed discernment and cold courage in resolving a dangerous and escalating incident involving his men and Iraqi soldiers at Maysaan, Iraq, on July 7, 2006, and in so doing prevented a fire-fight, the implications of which would have been disastrous, both militarily and politically.

"It is an honour to be able to oversee the sale of his George Medal."

Sgt Caines joined the Army's Princess of Wales' Royal Regiment in 1997.

Having completed two tours in Kosovo he went to Iraq for his first tour in July 2004.

While on one operation Sgt Caines' armoured vehicle was struck by a rocket-propelled grenade and knocked out.

The vehicle was repeatedly hit by blast bombs, RPGs and small arms fire until help came seven hours later.

Sgt Caines returned for two more tours of Iraq in 2006 and 2008 when he helped oversee the withdrawal of British soldiers.

He went on to serve on two Afghanistan tours.

The 42-year-old retired from the army earlier this year. His medals will be sold on December 8.

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Feltham Iraq War hero forced to sell bravery medals to get on the housing ladder - MyLondon