A Bradford soldier's wife has written to Tony Blair claiming her family has been "forgotten" by the Army while her husband risks his life in Iraq.

Imelda Parkinson's husband Stephen is a part-time soldier with the Territorial Army in Pudsey's 4th Battalion Para-chute Regiment.

Last October he left his wife and two young sons, Callum, ten, and Conor, six, to go on a six-month tour of Iraq.

"He was assured by his sergeant and other senior officers his family would be looked after," said Mrs Parkinson, of Birkenshaw.

"Instead, we have been left completely isolated and worried sick. It feels as though we have just been forgotten."

Mrs Parkinson, 37, said she was even more upset because she had received strange calls to her mobile phone.

"It's a number in Iraq but when I answer there is no one there, I can just hear shouting in the background," she said.

"I thought Stephen had been kidnapped and the kidnappers had his phone."

Mrs Parkinson said she rang the Army's welfare officer to report the calls but was told they could not help her.

"The man said if anything had happened someone would be in touch but otherwise there was nothing they could do," she said. "I am having sleepless night after sleepless night."

She has been put on medication to help her sleep.

In January, Mr Parkinson, a fork-lift truck driver, was allowed home for two weeks on compassionate leave because his wife's father was unwell and the children were emotionally disturbed by their father's absence.

"Callum was texting his dad up to 30 times a day and was crying continuously," said Mrs Parkinson. "The Army knew how bad things were because they allowed him home but since he went back I have heard nothing from them."

Mrs Parkinson said her husband was also upset that his family had not been cared for. "I am really disgusted with the British Army and I want Tony Blair to know it," said Mrs Parkinson. "It's even worse because he is only a part-time soldier and this is his first time away."

Mr Parkinson has been in the Territ-orial Army for 16 years but has never served in a conflict zone before. He is now in Basra. Over the last two months his family have run up a £1,200 phone bill calling Iraq.

Mr Parkinson is due to return between the end of April and beginning of May.

An Army spokesman said: "All Territorial Army units have dedicated unit welfare officers to provide support to the families. As part of their pre-deployment training, TA personnel are issued with 24/7 contact numbers for these officers to pass on to their families.

"MoD guidance to TA units state they are to ensure there is regular contact with the families of deployed personnel and to keep them updated as much as possible.

"We provide a families welfare package to assist this process. We also advise units to keep levels of support under constant review and to help families connect with each other.

"The commanding officer wrote directly to families after Christmas for the same reason and unit welfare officers have been consistently available.

"Now we have been made aware of Mrs Parkinson's concerns a welfare officer will be in contact with her to see if they can help."