A BARRY woman finally heard from her 'baby' sister for the first time since the Iraq war began.

Sheree James' younger sibling Bethany Andrews, a sergeant in the medical corps, has been stationed in the Gulf for eight weeks.

But it was only yesterday, that the 31-year-old was able to speak to her family back home in Malborough Close, Barry.

Mother-of-four Sheree James says she is glued to all news reports in the hope of catching a glimpse of her youngest sister.

She told the News: "Beth was in Iraq six weeks before the conflict started.

We used to hear from her regularly, but when the fighting started, communications stopped.

"I've been worried sick about her.

Every time I hear a British soldier has been hurt or killed, I catch my breath. And last week they mentioned Camp Andrews.

I was only half listening, heard the name Andrews and my stomach rolled."

But on Tuesday, Sheree, 36, had an injection of hope.

She said: "After reading in the Barry & District News about Scope's efforts to send goods to the Gulf, I volunteered to help.

I'd just popped home for lunch, when I caught a phone call from Beth.

"It was fantastic.

She told me she couldn't say where she was, because the line would be cut if she did, but she was just miles from the front line.

She couldn't say how long she thought it was going on for.

But just to hear her voice was a huge relief."

Bethany joined the Army when she left school at 17 and is serving with the medical corps.

Sheree added: "Even though we only get to see Bethany when she's on leave, my four daughters, Ruth, 14, Emily, 9, Olivia, 4, and Megan, 3, all know her and love her to bits.

We're a gang of three sisters: I'm the oldest, then there's Leesha, 33, who lives in Derby and Beth, the youngest. She's such a sweet girl. I just want to see her home safe."

If you have a loved one fighting in the Gulf, please contact the News with your story.