WHILE our boys and girls are preparing for battle spare a thought for the families left behind.

Scores of wives, husbands and children are waiting for news of their loved ones, but a group of army staff are working behind the scenes, acting as a lifeline to the Gulf for families left behind in Lancashire.

Sheila Wiggins and Lieutenant Aaron Beaver work for the army's welfare service at Fulwood Barracks, Preston, giving loved-ones back home much-needed support.

Sheila said: "A lot of people have gone out recently so before they went out the commanding officers did a pre-deployment talk. Not only to the soldiers but to the families as well."

The families were being prepared for the coming months when contact with their loved ones will reduce to the odd phone call or letter.

Lieutenant Beaver is the unit welfare officer for the 5 General Support Medical Regiment, based at Fulwood.

With 530 members of the unit deployed to the Gulf, he is responsible for distributing information and advice on everything from personal safety to the latest news from the desert.

The traditional way for families to keep in touch with soldiers is through an airmail letter known as a 'bluey'.

He said: "There are a quarter of a million people out there and there aren't nearly enough 'phones, and its costly.

"The best format is an e-bluey. They reckon they get it there in 36 hours."

The pair help with everything from transport problems to safety advice, supplying pre-school activities and summer schools for youngsters. Sheila said: "We do that all the time, not just in times of conflict. We are in touch with them anyway, so there are always mother and toddler groups and pre-schools.

"In times of conflict we look at supporting them in every sense of the word."

The welfare service is always looking for local companies to supply tickets or gifts for them to raffle, or supply to service families. To help, write to the Unit Welfare Office, 5 General Support Medical Regiment, Fulwood Barracks, Watling Street Road, Preston, PR2 8AA.