AN EAST Lancashire squaddie's stepmother today spoke of her concern after receiving a letter just as war broke out.

In his letter Lance Bombardier Steven Dixon, 22, said he was safe and well and that his Royal Artillery division would be leaving their tanks and preparing to look after Iraqi prisoners of war.

Steven is the nephew of so-called human shield Dieter Seager, 28, of Washington Street, Accrington, who left Jordan last week before hostilities started.

Steven sent his parents and grandmother letters at the weekend but they only arrived yesterday morning just as troops massed at the front and cruise missiles hit Baghdad.

Although the letter was written well before the start he said British Challenger 2 tanks were already streaming past his base somewhere in Kuwait to go to the front-line.

Steven's stepmum Katherine Dixon, 23, lives with his dad Richard, 39, in Bold Street, Accrington. She said she received the letter as she turned on the news to hear that the attack against Iraq had started.

"We got the letter just when we were watching the bombs going off in Baghdad, it really brought it home to us.

"We are really worried, we just hope that we're going to receive another and this is not the last. Or even better to get him home safely.

"The TV was really bad, I had to turn it off otherwise I would have sat there all day because whenever we watch the news we try to see Steven's face.

"And when they put the gas masks on, it really frightened Richard."