'I can't sleep' says soldier's mother

THE mother of a Bexhill soldier fighting in the Gulf has spoken of her family's anxiety and fear as military action in Iraq escalated this week.

Nina Cruttenden last spoke to her son Darren, a private in the 23rd battallion of the Pioneer Corps, a fortnight ago when he was stationed in northern Kuwait near the Iraqi border before war broke out.

She says she hasn't slept since Darren, 24, was sent to the Middle East eight weeks ago and has no idea where he is now.

Mrs Cruttenden, of Windmill Drive, added: "All we can do is pray he's OK from day to day. We've got Sky TV and I watch the news channel all through the night. It's painful to watch the destruction because I know my boy's out there but it's the only way I can keep in touch with what's going on."

Darren got married in December after returning from a six month tour of Northern Ireland. His wife Lee got word on Saturday that he was still in Kuwait and safe.

But Mrs Cruttenden was not reassured.

"That could all change in an instant," she said, "The hardest part is not knowing what's going on. I'm his mum and I feel it's my job to protect my boy but I can't. I feel helpless. We can write to them but they can't get any mail back to us."

"When he was able to phone a fortnight ago we were all in tears. He said 'mum, it's horrible here, we shouldn't be here.' He should be at home with his wife.