A soldier claims he has not been paid by the Army since November, after an error classified him as absent without leave.

Lance Corporal Derek Hindmarsh, 36, a soldier for 18 years, his wife Heather and their son John, three, have been struggling to pay bills because £1,200 has not been paid into their bank account.

Although the couple, of Birch Road, Ambrosden, near Bicester, were given a short-term loan from 23 Pioneer Regiment, in Bicester, and an emergency grant from the Soldiers, Sailors Airmen and Family Association, they are still in debt. Mrs Hindmarsh said the paperwork had been filled in correctly at Bicester, but had been given to the wrong department at a Glasgow administrative centre.

She said: "It is diabolical in this day and age a soldier and his family is treated like this all because someone didn't do their job properly in Glasgow."

The family has been told a payment will be made at the end of the month.

The Ministry of Defence said it was unable to comment on individual cases.