IT is hard for any child to be away from their parents at Christmas.

But it is particularly hard when those mums and dads are in a warzone on the other side of the world.

Pupils at Carswell Primary School in Abingdon are all too familiar with this situation, with many of their parents being based at the town’s Dalton Barracks and serving in Afghanistan.

To record their feelings – and to pass on festive messages to their soldier dads, the children made an animated film about fathers fighting abroad at Christmas. And it is so moving, it has now gone on show at a London museum.

A group of Year Five children made the four-minute film over three weeks with supply teacher Stuart Taylor, and it has been shortlisted for the Imperial War Museum’s Film Festival.

Mr Taylor, 61, said the nine- to 10-year-olds created North Street Grande using photographs and computers.

It shows soldiers and war through the ages – from the First World War to Afghanistan.

The animation ends with pictures of their serving parents alongside goodwill messages from the pupils.

Mr Taylor said: “There are quite a lot of children at the school with parents serving abroad.

“We were looking at personal and social education and looking at what people would feel about being away from loved ones, particularly at Christmas time.

“The children took photographs of their dads and brothers and send little messages to them at the end.”

Mr Taylor, of Roman Way in Wantage, was previously headteacher at Challow School and Stockham School. He has been making amateur films for 30 years.

He said: “It is something I got interested in and it was good for children as it has been a great learning experience, not only because they love animation but because there is a certain discipline to it. They have to be very careful about what they are doing.”

The film is being shown in the museum’s cinema until the New Year.

Abisha Gurung, 10, whose father is based at Dalton Barracks, said: “I am really proud of him because he is helping other people, but sometimes I am scared because I could lose him.”

Ajay Gurung, 10 – no relation – said he missed his soldier dad last Christmas.

He said: “I missed him a lot, and I gave him a hug when he came back, and I am looking forward to spending this Christmas with him.”

Georgia Davies’s soldier dad is back home for this Christmas. The 10-year-old said: “It was upsetting, lonely and quiet when he was away, but I am happy he is back this year.

He is brave and that makes me proud.”

Sue Gore, headteacher, said most entries in the festival were from students on university or college courses. She said: “This is a great achievement for such young children.

“We have so many children with parents serving abroad, particularly Afghanistan, and this film has been one way to try to address these issues.

“The messages the children send at the end of the film are particularly moving.”

The museum said that the film expressed “the feelings of loss and anxiety of children whose fathers have been sent to fight in wars.”