A soldier who was due to get married today is instead involved in the heart of the Kosovan crisis.

Rob Kennedy, 27, from Clacton, is serving in Macedonia as part of the NATO force.

Today (Friday), he was due to be marrying his fiancee Amelia Kent at Colchester Register Office.

Instead the wedding has been postponed and he is stationed husndreds of miles away near the Kosovan war zone.

Former care worker Amelia, who is looking after the couple's 3-month-old daughter Jade, said: "I was really upset when the wedding was first postponed and had quite a few tears but I know it will happen eventually."

The couple had booked their reception at Clacton Snooker Club and had invited about 200 friends and family.

They now hope to get married in September or October when Rob is due to return and live as a family in Germany.

Amelia said today: "I have been watching the news and trying to keep up with things. I got a phone call from Rob last Tuesday and it was nice to hear his voice and know he was safe and in one piece.

Rob was with Amelia, 23, of Rush Green, Clacton, before Christmas and saw the birth of their daughter.

However, he soon had to return to his base in Germany. He has been in Macedonia for several weeks now.

Amelia said today she did not know if Rob could be involved if any ground troops were sent in to try to resolve the Kosovan crisis.

Rob, who is a tank mechanic in the REMI section of the Army, wrote to This Is Essex partner the Gazette asking us to send a message to Amelia.

In his message to Amelia he said: "Missing you like crazy hon. Can't wait to see you and the babe and we will get married then.

"Love you loads, Rob xx."

Rob, who was born in Clacton, went to Clacton County High School. He left and spent five years in the Army before leaving and joining Clacton's Arthur Westood store and then returning to the Army.

The couple have been together for five years and been engaged for just over a year.

Rob's mother, Roberta, lives in Weeley. He explained due to his deployment his marriage had to be temporarily called off.

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