Former Ilkley schoolgirl in front line in Afghanistan

Charlene Smith's worried mum, Donna, is thankful that her driver daughter is serving in the north of the country, rather than the troubled Helmand province.

Private Smith, 18, joined the army two years ago after leaving Ilkley Grammar School, and completed her basic training at Bassinbourn, Cambridgeshire. She has two sisters, Samantha, eight, and Gemma, 25, and one brother, Guy, 23.

Since qualifying as a driver in 27 Transport Regiment Private Smith has served in Western Europe and Cyprus before her latest posting to Afghanistan.

She will serve an initial 12 weeks before a two-week leave then return to complete a six-month tour of duty. Her mum hopes she can get home to attend a family wedding in May.

Mrs Smith, of Leeds Road, Ilkley, said her daughter was very, very, nervous' when she learned she was being posted to Aghanistan.

Mrs Smith said: "I contacted her about two weeks ago and she was very good in spirit. Me and her dad, Paul, are very proud of her, so is all the family.

"I am very worried about her but the Army has been very good and put us in touch with a support group of families going through the same thing. It is a great help."

An extra 1,400 troops are to be deployed in Afghanistan, Defence Secretary Des Browne has announced.

The extra personnel will be sent to the war-torn country from May with the majority being sent over in the summer. Most will be based in Helmand province, with some at Kandahar airfield. The commitment will take Britain's presence in the country to 7,700 troops. Mr Browne added that the UK will remain in Afghanistan until 2009.

When she joined the army at the age of 16, Private Smith was featured in local newspapers as one of four new girl recruits from the Bradford area.

At the time she said that she preferred to follow the Army's career path, rather than go to college or university. Mrs Smith said: "She loves it and hopes to stay in at least until she is 21."