THE Archbishop of York has recorded a video message for Forces personnel who will be separated from their loved ones this Christmas.

The Faces for the Forces campaign is aiming to collect a million goodwill messages.

The Most Reverend Dr John Sentamu’s message will be included in a film that the Ministry of Defence will send to all barracks in Afghanistan and other areas where British troops are based.

He said: “It must be so hard to leave the ones you love behind to go out and serve your country – putting your lives at risk on a daily basis to protect our freedoms. You are real heroes.”

Other contributors include David Cameron, Dawn French and Sharon Osbourne.

The messages can be viewed at winkball.com ■ Singers KT Tunstall and James Dean Bradfield will perform when Chris Evans presents today’s BBC2 breakfast show from Dr Sentamu’s home – Bishopthorpe Palace, near York. Former members of York Minster choir and 12-year-old choirgirl Isabel Suckling, who recently landed a record deal with Decca Records, will also be there.

The broadcast was arranged during a chat between Evans and Dr Sentamu, when the archbishop appeared on the show.