A SOLDIER has sent her parents a special Christmas message all the way from war-torn Iraq.

Deborah Scott, 26, is serving with the Royal Military Police as part of the multi-national division in the south east of the war-torn country.

Deborah chose the Lancashire Evening Telegraph to tell her mum and dad, John and Jill Scott, who live in Knowl Meadow, Helmshore: "Happy Christmas, have a fab time and I'll see you on January 20." Her message ended: "Hello to all the girls too!" -- a reference to her friends in Helmshore.

Deborah's message highlights the fact that there are still many soldiers from East Lancashire serving in various regiments that are helping to keep peace around the world.

Her father John, a decorator, was delighted with the message, sent through the Army, and said he and his wife will miss Deborah a great deal over the festive period.

John, a father-of-two, said: "We were very apprehensive when we heard she was going to Iraq especially the wife, she was terrified.

"But we hear from her around once a week and she seems to be enjoying it.

"This will be our first Christmas without the kids, and the dog died recently so its nice to get a message like this."

Deborah, a former pupil of Haslingden High School, is currently living in a tent in Basra.

She will return for a weeks leave on January 20 but will serve six months in Iraq on a tour which started in November.