EVENING Press readers whose loved ones are serving away from home with the Army this Christmas were today letting them know they will be missed.

The paper received a number of messages from soldiers' families following an earlier article, which featured Christmas messages from "our boys".

The family of Nathan Fearn, 21, from New Earswick, who is spending Christmas in Kosovo with the Royal Signal regiment, said: "We wish him a very merry Christmas and best wishes for the New Year, Love Mum, Dad and Laura."

Carla Parrish, from Riccall, near Selby, wants to send a message to her son, Lance Corporal Craig Parrish, who is in Omagh, Northern Ireland, with the 1st Battalion, The Prince of Wales's Own Regiment of Yorkshire (1PWO).

Craig was in Sierra Leone last Christmas but was called back home on compassionate leave after his newborn son, Callum, was taken ill.

Callum celebrated his first birthday on December 5 without his dad and the tot will also go through his first healthy Christmas without seeing him. Craig's partner Serena Meldrum, who lives in York is also missing him.

Mrs Parrish said: "I just want to say that we miss and love him lots and we hope he has a nice Christmas. We are all hoping to see him in the New Year."

The family of Private Mark Jamieson, who is also in Northern Ireland with 1PWO, had this message - "Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. We look forward to you coming home when we can celebrate it all over again. Lots of love from Mum, Dad, Andy, Sacha, Grannie Hazel and all your aunts, uncles and cousins, Lisa, Sophie and Harry."

His grandmother Joan Blackburn, from York, added: "Best wishes for Christmas. We'll miss you. Lots of love from Granny, Granddad and Sam the dog."

Private Craig Francis, 17, from Woodthorpe, is spending his first Christmas away from home.

"Have a good Christmas and have lots of fun in Jordan in the New Year. We love and miss you loads and look forward to 15th January. >From Mum and Dad and an extra big hug from Phil."

Updated: 10:28 Monday, December 24, 2001