British soldiers in Afghanistan have held their own Christmas celebrations as commanders visited rank and file troops to thank them for their work.
Lieutenant General Nick Parker, who is deputy commander of Nato forces in the country, ambassador Mark Sedwill and British commander in Helmand Brigadier James Cowan toured various bases.
They began in Silab in Nad-e-Ali district, serving breakfast to soldiers from 1 Royal Anglian Regiment. This was followed by the Coldstream guards in Babaji, and then Shahzad to see the Grenadier Guards.
The party's next stop was the headquarters of 3 Rifles in Sangin, where Padre Mark Christian held a short service.
Lt Gen Parker addressed the soldiers and commended the work they were doing, as did the district governor of Sangin, Faisal Haq.
Lieutenant Colonel David Wakefield said the speech by the governor was a key moment. He said: "You simply wouldn't have seen that only a few months ago. To be in the camp on Christmas Day, to acknowledge our Christmas and to be openly happy to be there, that's an indication of the kind of security that the British Army over time have brought to Sangin district centre."
The group then visited A Company, 2nd Battalion the Royal Welsh, before Lt Gen Parker went to Camp Bastion to see troops there.
Lt Col Wakefield said visits by Army leaders were crucial, adding: "It really is important when the soldiers get a chance to see men like Gen Parker and the ambassador coming down to see them.
"The message from Gen Parker to soldiers in places like Sangin and Nad-e-Ali was that even though they are sat up in Kabul looking at the whole of the country, these places are squarely in the centre of their minds because there is so much insurgent activity going on there and the fighting is so intense. The soldiers are doing an amazing job."
It is Army tradition that officers serve soldiers their festive meal on Christmas Day. This Christmas the Ministry of Defence sent more than seven tonnes of food - including a tonne of sprouts - to Afghanistan and there were nearly 1.5 tonnes of turkey, more than a tonne of mince pies, 2.5 tonnes of Christmas cake, a tonne of Christmas pudding and 1,000 litres of gravy.
