The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment, including scores fo soldiers from East Lancashire, was deployed to war-torn Basra last month for a six-month tour of duty.

The troops, which include soldiers from Blackburn, Darwen, Hyndburn, Burnley and Pendle, have now settled in but many are now facing Christmas without their families and loved ones.

Deborah Lewis spoke to one of them to find out how they are finding their peace-keeping mission, and how Christmas in the Middle East will be spent.

Kingsman Jason Wallis will definitely be getting into the festive spirit this week - thanks to a reamrk he made in the Lancashire Telegraph before leaving for Iraq.

When Kingsman Wallis, from Colne, spoke to us before the regiment's tour of duty, he said that for Christmas Day one of the soldiers would probably dress up as Santa Claus.

And speaking from Basra, the 27-year-old said: "Guess who's been volunteered into playing Santa this year?! When the lads read what I'd said there was no getting out of it, but I don't mind, sure it'll be a good laugh handing out presents to everyone."

He said that the troops have now settled into their routines after taking over from the previous regiment at Basra airfield - although they've had a few visits that are not exactly routine.

"Fern Britton came for a few days for a GMTV programme," said Jason, "and then a lady from Nuts magazine was sent out which cheered the lads up, lots got their photo taken with her dressed as Santa's helper!"

Jason, who has been in the Army for seven years, said the soldiers are planning to make Christmas Day as normal as possible.

He said: "We're trying to do what we do when we have Christmas at our base in Germany. There's certain things we can't do, like drink alcohol, because we're on operation, but we'll normalise it as much as we can, with speeches and a proper Christmas lunch cooked by the army chefs."

The former Nelson and Colne College student will be having a second Christmas Day when he returns home next month for his R and R (rest and recuperation) - all soldiers on a six month tour get a fortnight's break at some point.

Jason will then have another festive day with his mum Carole, sister Emma, 25, brother James, 17 and 10-year-old stepbrother William, at his mum's house.

He has been keeping in frequent contact with his family thanks to regular internet and telephone access, and has received numerous parcels from them.

The Wallis's are used to spending Christmas apart because Jason has been in Cyprus and Germany for several of them, although this is the first time he has been on an operational deployment.

Jason said: "It's a bit different here obviously but I try to call home as much as I can, and my mum has just learned how to email, so that means we're in touch more because we get good internet access, and I write too.

"She and my sister have been sending parcels since I arrived, with sweets and toiletries and things, and I've also got a couple of parcels that can only be opened on December 25.

"The Army wives charity and soldiers' wives back in Osnabruck are also sending them out, so I think every single soldier will have something to open on Christmas Day, which is really good."

Jason, who spent a six month tour in Iraq in 2003, said: "The Army has been good too, the welfare facilities we have are much better now, there are TVs to watch film and football when we're not on shift, and importantly there are regular opportunities to email and call home.

"The plan is to let all of us use the phone for a few minutes on Christmas Day.

"But the level of support we've received from back home, from the general public as well as our families, has been great, we've been surprised how strong it has been. The last time I remember having such support is during the firefighters' strikes in 2002.

"It really makes a difference, to know that people back home care about us and what's going on out here.

"It's a real morale booster, and I'd like to thank everyone for their support."

He added: "To all my family and friends, I'd like to say that I'm fine, and I'll be home soon and no doubt down in Burnley pretty much every night!"

For the families back Christmas without their loved ones is going to be a strange experience.

Jason Wallis' mum Carole Wallis, 47, said it would be a worry knowing that her son was out in Iraq over Christmas.

She said: "Normally I have the family round for a meal but this year I'm going to my daughter's just down the street from me.

"I'm looking forward to it but it will be strange because Jason won't be there. I know he's been away before but never somewhere like Iraq at Christmas. It will make things a bit difficult.

"It was strange on Sunday because we had a big family party and it was odd not having Jason there."

Carole will spend Christmas day with her daughter Emma, 25, and son James, 17, and said it was no surprise that her son would be dressing up as Santa out in Iraq.

She added: "He's very outgoing but when he comes back in January we will have Christmas dinner again. I'll speak to him on Christmas Day anyway and I'm really looking forward to that.

"At least I won't have to cook this Christmas. My daughter even has a dishwasher so there'll be no washing up either!"