Service men and women from the Wrexham, Flintshire, Denbighshire, and Chester areas will be on tours of duty across the globe this Christmas – unable to be with their families during the holiday.

Many of them will be serving their country in some of the world's most dangerous conflict zones in Iraq and Afghanistan.

If your loved one is in the Army, RAF or Navy and won't be able to come home at Christmas make sure they know how much they're missed by sending a message through the Evening Leader website.

All your written messages will be published online and in a special Christmas edition of the Evening Leader for you to keep.

You can also video a short Christmas message and we'll upload these onto the Evening Leader website.

Even if you don't know anyone who will be serving abroad, but still want to show your support to the troops, make sure you send a Christmas message through our website.

There are several ways to send us your message:


Email
Send your festive message via email to digitalnews@nwn.co.uk.
Please keep them under 200 words.


Video
You can send a video message to your hero by emailing the video file to digitalnews@nwn.co.uk.

Please try and keep the video under two minutes and send it as a Windows media video file.

If you do not have the facility to record video you can vist the Evening Leader's head office on the Mold Industrial Estate and we will record a short film for you.

Just call 01352 707707 and ask to speak the picture desk to arrange a time to come in.


Mobile video
If you recorded the video on your mobile phone you can even text it straight to us at 07803 851600.

Make sure you type ELVIDS as the subject of the text (if you have the option) and at start the MMS message – otherwise we can't receive your texts.

For more information on texting us please CLICK HERE


Post
You can post your message for us to put online to:
Christian Dunn
Christmas Message
Evening Leader
Mold Business Park
Wrexham Road
Mold
Flintshire
CH7 1XY


When sending us a message please include your name and where you are from, the name and rank of your loved one you are sending the message to, and the country they are serving in.

Please note for security reasons we will not publish your full address or the regiment and specific location of any serving member of the armed forces.


Your email messages

From Richard
"I don't know anyone in the forces, but if you're alone then try to have a very merry Christmas"


From the Harrison Family - Leicestershire
"I don't have any member of the family serving in the armed forces, but on behalf of my family I would like to pass on to as many of those people out there our gratitude and thanks that there are people who will still do what they are doing.

Christmas is a time when you should be with those that you love.
Me and the family are thinking and praying for them... and we'll raise a glass to you on Christmas Day.

God Bless."


From the Hughes family
To Tpr Richard P Hughes - Queens Dragon Quards
"Richard - Christmas is going to very different without you, no one to annoy Nicola.

Hope you receive the parcels.

All the best for Christmas and the New Year.

March can't come round quick enough for us.

Dad is keeping a seat warm for you ready for the next home game at Wrexham Football Club.

Take good care of yourself Richard

All out love Mum, Dad, Nicola, Nana and all the family.

All the best to everyone in the forces, keep up the good work."

From John Adams
"Please can you send a message to my son, Lcpl, Gavin Adams and my son-in-law Lcpl Carl Gardner.

Both are serving with the Royal Marines in Afganistan.

We miss them and can't wait for the New Year to see them, take care keep safe.

All our love mam and dad"


Your postal messages

To Daniel Rutter from Wrexham
Serving with the RAF in Iraq.
"Happy Christmas Daniel,
Hope everything goes well for you.
Love and miss you.
It will be the first Christmas without you at home.
See you when you come home
Love from
Nin and Andrew
xxxxx"

"Take care missing you this Christmas.
See you in April.
Love always
Mum (Karen Rutter)"

"Miss you bro.
Be safe
Love Andy Rutter"