Parcels for troops in Afghanistan

To date the friendly staff have sent sixty eight parcels, which contain everything from biscuits, sweets, fruit cakes and pot noodles, to cooling spray, hand and shower gel, razor blades and magazines, with another thirty three parcels ready to go any day now.

Spearheading the campaign is post office assistant Nina Cruttenden whose son, Darren, a corporal with the Royal Logistic Corps, spent six months in Afghanistan.

She discussed her idea to send parcels to the troops with proprietors of Windmill Road post office, Sarah and Jonathan Armstrong, and they happily agreed to get involved.

They began collecting donations three weeks ago, using a photo of Darren on their posters which they put up at various locations around town, and they have been overwhelmed with the support they have received.

Nina said: "Many of the soldiers out there don't have family who can send them things. By sending these parcels we are letting them know we are behind the troops and we support them.

Local residents and businesses have been very generous with their support and donations - Boots in Devonshire Road have donated a range of small toiletry items, and Stead and Simpson have kept us supplied with shoe boxes to put things in."

She added: "Everyone has been wonderful"

An added bonus is that thanks to the government being lobbied a couple of years ago there is now no postage charge for parcels, which are sent to the British Forces overseas, that are under 2kg in weight.

Sarah said that both she and hubby Jonathan were only too pleased to support Nina's idea and is delighted with the response from local residents.

She said: "People in this area are from a generation who understand what our troops are doing and they are proud of them."

The first batch of parcels should be reaching the troops in Afghanistan any day now.

Anyone who wishes to donate items to the parcels can either drop them off at the Windmill Road Post Office, at the Bexhill Observer offices at 18, Sackville Road, at or call the post office on (01424) 214253 to arrange collection.