PLEASE keep your gifts rolling in for soldiers serving on the front line in Afghanistan and Iraq.

That’s the plea from returning soldiers who said that the parcels were a ‘morale booster’ and transformed the atmosphere of the camp.

So far the Echo-backed campaign has sent 568 boxes to named soldiers serving in war torn zones. Dorchester councillor Molly Rennie organises the campaign and said that in the last few months the donations from members of the community have soared resulting in 171 boxes being sent to the troops in 1 Rifles, 2 Rifles and other regiments.

This week Coun Rennie met with reservist soldiers who have returned from Afghanistan and got to hear what a difference receiving a parcel can make. She said: “It was great to meet with the recipients of the boxes and their pleasure receiving them and the importance of the supportive kind thoughts of our community was expressed many times to me. So of course we will continue to do anything to support our troops.

“I would like to thank everyone who has donated and the Echo for backing this campaign. It’s just been an outstanding success.”

Coun Rennie has been running the shoebox campaign along with her husband John, with support of Dorchester Town Council. Their son Alexander is currently serving in Afghanistan with 1 Rifles.

Teaching Assistant Angela Dodd donated eight boxes after she and colleagues at All Saint’s School in Weymouth collected piles of goodies to fill the boxes.

Joining in with the community effort is a group of pensioners at the Bayeux Court in Dorchester who have been collecting and filling shoeboxes for Coun Rennie.

n A LETTER received this week from Afghanistan Major Marc Briggs of 2 Rifles he said that the first batch of boxes had arrived at the base in Afghanistan and added: “The shoeboxes have been an immediate success.”

Boxes can be donated to Dorchester Town Council in North Square, Dorchester or the Keep Military Museum, Bridport Road, Dorchester.

You can also take them to any Dorset Echo office and we will forward them to Coun Rennie. The offices are on the Granby Estate, Weymouth, Antelope Walk, Dorchester and East Street, Bridport.

Do you know anyone who is serving in Afghanistan or Iraq and would like a shoebox?

If so contact Miriam Phillips on 01305 830986 or miriam.phillips@dorsetecho.co.uk