A mother has spoken of her concern for her daughter who has been posted to the Balkans as part of the United Nations peace-keeping force.

Every night cleaner Petra McGregor scours the TV news bulletins in the hope of spotting Heather - pictured - her only child.

Heather, 22, a driver with the Royal Logistics Corps, flew out on Good Friday to the border of Macedonia and Kosovo.

And it could be six months or more before she again sees her mother and father, Duncan, at the family home in Heckmondwike.

Petra, 43, who has worked at Heckmondwike police station for 14 years, said: "Heather is based at the Mill Hill barracks in London and was on standby for six weeks to go to Kosovo.

"We don't know when we will see her again. There has been talk of her being out there for six months but it could be longer, depending on the situation.

"I watch the 9pm and 11pm news bulletins in the hope of catching a glimpse of Heather or seeing someone who knows her.''

Heather is a former pupil of Liversedge Secondary School, now Spen Valley High, and was a member of the Territorial Army at Thornbury barracks in Pudsey with the Royal Electrical Mechanical Engineers.

Since being posted overseas, she has only been able to phone her family three times and has sent one letter.

In return, her parents have sent her a parcel containing Stephen King novels, magazines with puzzles and crosswords, chocolates, videos, her favourite perfume and an inflatable chair. Petra said: "Initially I was very worried about Heather being out there, especially after those three Americans were kidnapped and every day there seems to be new monstrosities committed by the Serbs. There was the recent report about women being raped. But it puts my mind at rest when I hear from Heather. We miss her very much.

"The phone calls last only one to two minutes because the line is bad but it's enough time to let us know how she is doing. She seems quite happy."

She said Heather was not allowed to say much about her work, or exactly where she is based, for security reasons.

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