Army wives are being targeted in a campaign of hatred by anti-war Germans.

While their loved ones risk their lives on the front line, Germans opposed to the war with Iraq are taunting their wives.

Peter Mays told today how his daughter Nicolla Hardy has been spat on near the army barracks in Hamlin where she now lives.

Her husband Rob Hardy, 25, of Heaton, Newcastle, is playing a key role in the Gulf with the 1st Armoured Division.

Mr Mays, 56, of Wallsend, North Tyneside, said he was disgusted with the treatment of his daughter and four-year-old grandson Ben.

He said: "Nicolla is stuck out in Germany and the wives have been told not to go into the city centre because some of the Germans are spitting at them.

"It's disgusting, especially when they're doing it even when Ben's there and he's only four.

"Rob has been out there for about three weeks but obviously we don't know exactly what he is doing.

"He's in the engineers so I think he will either be in charge of an armoured personnel carrier or be invoved in bridge building.

"Rob's been in the army since he left school and he has been all over the place, including Bosnia.

"Obviously Nicolla is very worried like all of the wives are, she just wants her husband to be safe and back with her.

"We are all just watching the news like everyone else and hoping everything is OK."

Mr Mays' wife, Carol, said they also fear Ben is being taunted by local youngsters at school.

She said: "I think the kids at school must have been saying something because Ben started asking Nicolla if his daddy is going to shoot anyone or be shot himself.

"Nicolla has been telling Ben not to speak when they go to the shops so people don't know they aren't German because they have been getting so much abuse.

"Unfortunately with them being over in Germany I can't help them.

"Nicolla was saying she doesn't want to watch the news but she can't avoid it really."

25/03/2003