WEYMOUTH firefighters are standing by Dorset’s troops by backing the Echo’s Treats for Troops campaign.

The new campaign launched this week is providing essential morale-boosting items for frontline soldiers in Afghanistan.

Station manager of Weymouth Fire Station Phil Head said: “We’re really keen to support the campaign because we support what they are doing and we will do anything we can to help, however trivial.

“As firemen we understand the sacrifice that Britain’s Armed Forces are making.”

The firefighters join in a whole host of community volunteers and supporters in Weymouth and Dorchester who want to show Dorset’s soldiers, sailors and airmen that they have their support.

Now we’re appealing for businesses and residents to help us by donating items or packing shoeboxes for the appeal.

If you want to pack a shoebox yourself it only takes minutes to fill it with items that will make a real difference to a soldier stationed in Afghanistan living off rations everyday.

Letters of thanks from soldiers have been pouring into the Echo to tell us how much the boxes mean to them.

From next week we will be distributing special donation bins in supermarkets and shops to make it easier for you to donate.

Shoeboxes can be donated at any Dorset Echo office, at the Granby Industrial Estate, Weymouth, Antelope Walk, Dorchester, or East Street, Bridport.

If you are a shop owner or a business and are able to display a box collection bin please get in touch with us.

Contact Miriam Phillips on 01305 830985 or email: miriam. phillips@dorsetecho.co.uk For more information about how to get involved, visit www.dorsetecho.co.uk/campaigns/shoebox