A Darlington soldier will celebrate her 21st birthday in Iraq this weekend.
Pte Charlotte Nelson, a former Longfield Comprehensive pupil, is stationed at an airfield with the 5th Battalion of Royal Electronic Mechanical Engineers. She is likely to be in Iraq until January.
Her mother, Heather Nelson, said Charlotte was involved in a wide variety of duties. She said her daughter had not yet witnessed trouble, but was finding it hard to cope with the heat.
Pte Nelson has been given permission by the Army to celebrate her 21st on Sunday with a few drinks with friends.
Mrs Nelson said: "We are not feeling too bad right now. But I'm sure we'll be feeling a lot sadder at the weekend when it's the big day and we can't be with her."
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