Brigid Allagoa, 52, a consultant paediatrician at Dewsbury and District Hospital, was working in Afghanistan with the Territorial Army in 2007, when she met neurosurgeon Martin Christie.

The pair were based at the British Army Headquarters in Helmand and worked to save the lives of soldiers and civilians.

The medics often endured weekly rocket attacks, and saw some of their colleagues injured while they battled to help others.

They became firm friends and when they returned to the UK, love blossomed.

Martin, 63, who worked in Afghanistan with UK company Frontier Medical, said: "It's an extraordinary, strange environment and some of the things going on around you can be horrific.

"Sharing the experience with someone can bring you together, but as far as romance goes, it's completely the wrong situation."

Brigid said: "Looking back, I spoke to Martin more than anyone else, but there was no chance of romance in that environment.

"I treated lots of babies and children and we struggled, some of them we lost, many of them we saved, but everybody rallied together."

On their return to England, Brigid and Martin, who lost his second wife Barbara to breast cancer shortly before going to Afghanistan, kept in touch and romance blossomed during a weekend walking in the Yorkshire Dales. They are now living together happily in Huddersfield.

Martin has already returned to Afghanistan three times and Brigid expects to be called back this year.

Martin said: "I really respect the soldiers, they leave the relative safety of the camp and go out there to protect us."

Brigid added: "We were not there to fight, but to mend the people who were fighting. They are the real heroes."