THE paint was barely dry on the walls of a newlywed couple's new home when their marital bliss was shattered by war in Iraq.

Melissa and John Cox had been in their house on Ruskin Avenue, Kidderm-inster, just five days when the call came for Territorial Army corporal Melissa to travel to Kuwait on February 28. John, who is also in the TA as a sergeant, was not called up to take part in the conflict.

The couple only got married last June, but have known each other for seven years. Melissa, 26, who is a civilian worker with West Mercia Police, met John, 32, when they joined the TA on the same night. Melissa Cox who is on her way home to Kidderminster from Iraq.

Former King Charles I High School pupil Melissa was shocked when she found out she had to go into Iraq.

Her mother, Christine Cook, of Griffin Avenue, Kidderminster, said: "She was very upset. We all were, we have not been coping very well while she has been away."

The only information John, Christine and Melissa's father, Alan, had was that Melissa was working as a clerk with the 1st Royal Irish Regiment. However, last Sunday they received the phone call they have been praying for to say she is coming home.

Christine said: "All we know is that she is moving on Saturday to Kuwait. It could take days for her to get back here. We don't know when or where she is arriving."

Melissa's family are planning to meet her wherever she lands and bring her straight back to Kidderminster. Christine said: "We are going to let her decide what she wants to do about parties and seeing all her friends and family.

"I don't know where she has been or what she has been doing. She sounded OK when I spoke to her, but who knows what she has seen out there."

Christine is hoping Melissa will settle back into normal life, but is determined to keep her daughter closer to home in future. She said: "I'm not sure what she'll do when she comes back. As far as I'm concerned she is not going away again. I'm going to nail her feet to the floor."

Christine, Alan and John said they were grateful for the support of friends and family while Melissa has been away and Christine added: "Everyone has been wonderful, it has made such a difference."