EAST Lancashire families today spoke of their cautious hopes as the war in Iraq looked to be nearing its end.

Stephanie Haworth, of James Street, Great Harwood, whose daughter Aly-Joy, 18, is an Army medic in Iraq, said: "We heard from her for the first time since the war started last night. She left a message on her boyfriend's mobile telling us that she loved us. I'm so relieved and hopefully she'll be back home soon."

Louise Wicks, of Livesey Branch Road, Blackburn, whose 21-year-old brother Andrew is a paratrooper, said: "I'm not getting my hopes up. They have a lot to sort out with the aftermath.

"I write to him every couple of days but we've had nothing from him for three weeks."

Diane Fawcett is a mother of two from Lower Darwen, whose husband Clive is a magician and a squaddie.

She said: "I was made up. Hopefully it's all going to be over soon and my husband will be coming back.

"There probably is going to be a peace-keeping force but at least if they stay for that it means they are safer. It is a relief."

Wife Lisa Bateson today sent a message to her soldier husband -- come home safe from Iraq.

The mother-of-two of Avondale Road, Darwen, has received two letters in as many weeks from her 24-year-old husband Paul. He headed to the war zone with the Seventh Armoured Brigade days before his daughter Ellie's first birthday.

"The whole family is waiting for the news that he will be coming home safe," she said.

Meanwhile, a British family forced to flee Kuwait is preparing to return home after the end of Saddam's regime.

Sean and Sharon McShea and children, Caitlin, two, and Ciaran, one, hope to return to their family home in two weeks after the school where they both work re-opened.

The couple, formerly of Newchurch Road, Stacksteads, moved to Kuwait in 1996.

Sean and his family live 50 miles from Iraq and were among 4,500 British nationals who fled.

The 35-year-old former teacher at Thorn County Primary School, Bacup, said: "We can't wait to get back to some sort of normality. The children will be glad to get back and see all their friends."

An Iraqi medic from Chorley has also spoken about his fears for his family in Baghdad.

The man, who asked not be identified for family reasons, said he has up to 40 direct relatives living in the Iraqi capital.

"We are in a situation where there is a war, there has been street fighting and everybody was at risk," said the man, who works for the Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.

"I wish I could be there to know they are safe. You have to pray for them."