There will be no white Christmas for British troops in the deserts of Afghanistan.

In the main British base of Camp Bastion, in Helmand, there is little sign of festivity.

But for the men of 1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards, otherwise known as the Welsh Cavalry, Bastion is a welcome relief from life on the front line.

The reconnaissance regiment is tasked with tracking the Taliban.

But for now, some of the soldiers are back at the main base for a few days. It's a chance to do maintenance work and to relax.

C Squadron is a unit based in Musa Qala, equipped with the Army's new Mastiff armoured vehicles.

Unlike most of the other men, Lance Corporal Rob Shortman, 24, from Cwmbran, Gwent, will be flying home for Christmas.

He will be able to spend time with his wife Rebecca and newborn daughter Chloe.

Holding a fistful of bullets and with a rifle slung over his shoulder, he said: "It will be my first Christmas with the newborn and there will probably be a lot of sleepless nights. I'm sure I will get less sleep back home than I do over here.

"It's my job to look out from the vehicle for anything dodgy and if we need to I will fire back.

"We've been pretty lucky so far but I won't say any more, I don't want to jinx us."

So far the squadron has been hit a total of 10 times, but they have escaped without any fatalities.

Men from A Squadron, based in Garmsir, are also back at Bastion.

The unit uses Scimitar tanks to hunt out Taliban routes through the desert.

Corporal Dean John, 25, a vehicle mechanic from Port Talbot, said: "We've been quite lucky. The threat is still there but so far, touch wood, everything has been fine."

Cpl John is on his second tour to Afghanistan and the fourth tour of his career.

The father of three boys, Dylan, seven, Harvey, six, and Ethan, two, said: "I don't think Christmas is going to make much difference over here. I can't see it changing. It will be normal work.

"But hopefully we'll get something a bit different for Christmas dinner.

"Otherwise I will just have to pick my best ration pack meal." That will mean boil-in-the-bag chicken tikka masala.

The troops have been inundated with parcels from friends, family and community groups.

Normally they are full of useful titbits like sachets of cappuccino, shower gel and nail clippers.

But over Christmas the men have been delighted to receive cards and a supply of mince pies.