Holme-on-Spalding Moor has launched HOSM (Help Our Serving Military) and are collecting items that can be shipped to troops in Afghanistan.

Sue Taylor, of Schoolwear in the village, said: “Conditions are very tough on the frontline and they need extra personal items. With the intense heat in the daytime and freezing cold nights, stuff like sunglasses and woolly hats and fingerless mitts are needed. We are now starting to make up packages for Christmas presents.

“There will be hundreds of troops on the frontline on Christmas Day, some with no families to send them anything. Contributions will really help them have a better time in very difficult circumstances.

“These young men and women are giving up a lot for Britain.”

There are donations boxes in several of the village shops in which items can be dropped in. Other than clothing, the troops need toiletries, sweets, small games and puzzles, books, magazines and sports sections of newspapers.

The goods don’t all have to be new, you can sort through cupboards and find loads of stuff you don’t use, like Rubik’s Cubes or anything to relieve a few hours of boredom,”said Mrs Taylor.

“Local people have kindly donated a variety of items which we have made up into shoe-size boxes and sent out, they have been very much appreciated.”

Alternatively, people can made financial donations which will be then used to buy goodies for the soldiers. Cheques can be made payable to Help Our Serving Military and dropped at 62 High Street, Holme-on-Spalding Moor.

People can also make up their own box of goodies and send them free of charge. The boxes have to be under two kilos and can be sent from the local post office.

They should be sent to Captain Smith, The Light Dragoons Battle Group, Camp Bastion, BFPO 792.