IT was a birthday to remember for the Lyme Regis man who celebrated his 24th birthday last Friday in Basra, southern Iraq, where he is serving with the British army as a gunner in the artillery.

Brave Mark Boujniewicz, was missed on his big day by proud parents Paul and Viv, and fiance Jessica Farrar from Charmouth.

Mark, who went to Woodroffe school and played for Lyme Regis football club as a lad, is in Basra with the Third Royal Horse Artillery restoring law and order to the war torn city.

His parents and fiance Jessica, 18, were able to speak to him last week for the first time in over a month and were overjoyed to hear from him.

Mum Viv said: "It was great to hear to his voice and to know he was OK. We have the TV on all the time following what's happening, the worry is unbelievable it really is, but now we know he's safe."

Viv said Mark, who was a drummer in the town band as a boy, had seen some amazing and horrendous things during his time there.

Mark, who has been with the army for three years, had been in Kosovo before, but this was a different experience entirely.

Viv said Jessica, who is studying medicine at Exeter university, was really missing Mark, who proposed on Boxing Day this year, and was looking forward to seeing him at the end of May, when he is expected to return home.

Also looking forward to seeing him are brothers Adam, 25, and Dominic, 19.