Little troopers: Photos show forces families' 'highs and lows'

The lives of some of Britain's military families have been captured on camera to show the experiences of children who have a parent serving away from home.

The charity Little Troopers estimates there are more than 150,000 children who have a parent serving in the British armed forces who may be away from home for up to nine months.

Louise Fetigan, the charity's founder, said: "The pictures show many of the emotions experienced by a military family from waving goodbye to Daddy's ship, the happiness when they come home and the tough times while they are away."

The images are being used in a charity calendar and include families from the Army, Royal Navy and RAF. The charity says its Military Moments calendar shows a side of forces life very rarely shared.

The BBC has gathered some of the most beautiful and interesting photographs from across England on its Pinterest board.

Jensen Harry Hodgkinson's mother Jenna, 24, said she was "thrilled" their photograph would be shared with the forces community. Her husband Corporal Barrie Hodgkinson, 33, is based at RAF Honington until December.

Mum Nicky Broome's photo shows her three daughters waving off their dad Dan who is deployed on HMS Portland. She said: "I am very proud when I look at this photo - it totally captivates what we as a family deal with. Our children deal very well with separation while he's away and I couldn't be prouder of them."

Molly Frere joined her father Rupert - an Army photographer - for a day at work when this picture was taken. He took her for a tour of the Household Cavalry Regiment headquarters in London

This photo of Harvey-Logan Holt was taken at a photoshoot after his father, SAC Daniel Holt, had just returned from a tour of duty. SAC Holt is based at RAF Wittering alongside Harvey's mother, SAC Lucy Holt

Royal Navy engineering technician Adam Roche embraces son Kian, aged three, after a nine-month deployment. Mum Stevie Roche said: "Kian stayed embraced like this with his dad for most of the day. I think he was a little afraid to let go."

Emma Smith submitted this photo of her husband, Colour Sgt Alex Smith, with sons Leo and George. "Alex is sharing his photo memories from his tour of Iraq with his sons from before they were born," she said

Teddy Woolls, aged two, sleeps with a cuddly toy printed with an image of his father, Cpl James Woolls of 51 RAF Regiment Squadron at RAF Lossiemouth