Soldier girl Daisy Burrough has sprung a surprise on her family and sweetheart by coming home early for Christmas.

The 21-year-old from Queensbury was on her second tour of Afghanistan as a combat medic and was not due home until January.

But she was set to arrive back in Bradford last night instead – almost one month earlier than planned much to mum and dad Lisa and Mick Burrough’s joy.

Her fiance Tom Jacob, also a combat medic, is hoping to get time away from his Catterick base next week to have an early Christmas celebration – because he has been put on guard duty over Christmas and Boxing Day.

When Daisy, who joined the Army at 17 after leaving Queensbury Upper School, comes home at the end of her tour in March Tom will be flying out to begin his.

Mrs Burrough said: “They’ve hardly had much time together and when she comes back, he’ll be going out – the next time they’ll see each other will be in May.

“Daisy had been telling a doctor she works with how much she was going to miss being at home for Christmas and somehow he seemed to fix it for her and get her some early leave. We couldn’t believe it when we got the phone call. It’s going to be a very special Christmas.”

As soon as Daisy’s flight touches down, the family will be dashing off to Scarborough to see her gran who decided to book herself on a cruise around the Mediterranean as Christmas had been postponed until her granddaughter’s originally planned homecoming next month.

“Poor mum just decided to take herself off seeing as nothing was happening at Christmas. It was too late for her to change her plans back but we’ll make sure Daisy sees her before she sets sail!” said Mrs Burrough.

Daisy, who was a laid-back teen, joined the Army at her mum’s suggestion and has not looked back since.

“She loves the Army life. She’s seeing the world and she’s met Tom!”

Daisy and Tom met on a training exercise after they were drafted in at short notice to support regiments going out to Afghanistan.

Daisy’s first tour was with the Desert Rats (7th Armoured Brigade) and this time she is with the Scots Guards. Tom has been transferred to Catterick where Daisy is also based. The couple are hoping to spend some of their time this Christmas planning their wedding.