RESIDENTS are digging deep for a mother's campaign to send Christmas parcels to Dorset soldiers.

Dorchester town councillor Molly Rennie launched her campaign last month. She wants to sent shoeboxes full of presents to every Rifles serviceman that will spend Christmas in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Coun Rennie said hundreds of boxes were still needed, but the campaign was going well so far.

She said: "People are being marvellous and so supportive about this.

"I have had many phone calls from all over the place asking me what to put in the boxes.

"I think there is a nice feel-good factor about this.

"People donating are also telling me their stories about when they did national service."

Coun Rennie is running the campaign with her husband John. Their son Alexander, 35, has served abroad with the Rifles regiment in countries including Iraq.

The Dorset Echo is backing the campaign and asking readers to donate boxes of parcels, or single items that can be packed into boxes, to Coun Rennie and her helpers.

Coun Rennie said: "This is a do-able thing. A lot of people have given me boxes already done.

"But people can just put a tube of toothpaste in if they can't afford to do a whole box.

"Nothing will be wasted."

She said especially generous donors so far had included members of Sedgefield Court bingo club in Weymouth, who donated four boxes of gifts.

What could I include in my Christmas shoebox? A letter/card with a Christmas message; books, pens or pencils; magazines or cartoon books; puzzles - eg sudoko, crosswords or jigsaws; boiled sweets; toiletries - sealed shower gel or bars of wrapped soap; pictures or postcards; socks, underwear.

What not to include: Chocolate, cakes or any food that could melt or perish; aerosols; fragile items such as glass containers or mirrors; dangerous items - scissors or razors; any war related items or anything of a political nature.

Where to take boxes or items: Victoria Park Pharmacy, Dorchester; any Dorset Echo office; Age Concern Dorchester; Dorchester Town Council offices; West Dorset District Council offices, Dorchester; Dorset County Museum; Martin's Newsagents in South Street; the Octagon Café, Poundbury.