Fiance orders Chinese from Basra

Louise Granger and James Gadsby met at school in Tenterden

A soldier serving in Iraq has sent his fiancee her favourite Chinese takeaway as a second anniversary present.

Cpl James Gadsby ordered chicken and pineapple, beef chow mein and chicken balls to be sent to Louise Granger at her home in Ashford, Kent.

But when it arrived Miss Granger, who works nights as a mental health care assistant, was asleep.

"My Dad woke me up and said, 'There's a parcel from Iraq'. I got all excited and found it was a Chinese," she said.

But she said she did appreciate the romantic gesture made earlier this month by Cpl Gadsby, who has been in Iraq for nearly four months.

He is serving as a Warrior armoured vehicle commandeer with the 1st Battalion the Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment.

Cpl Gadsby ordered the takeaway from the local Chinese

The soldier, known as "Gadders", called the Chun Wah takeaway in Ashford from his base in Amarah, 100 miles from Basra.

He asked them to include a card with the message: "Sorry I couldn't be with you - Happy Anniversary."

The couple, who are both 24, met at Homewood School in Tenterden, Kent and are due to marry on 4 August, 2007.

His mother, Marion, 54, said she was not surprised by her son's gesture.

"He's a lovely boy," she said. "He is a romantic, but only with Louise.

"He can be a pain to everyone else - but we love him."