Mini fans heading for our troops in Iraq

This week nearly 50 battery-operated mini-fans were heading to the Gulf destined for Bexhill soldier Joe Belton (second from left in our picture) and his squadron after a terrific response to our recent appeal.

And we're expecting a further consignment of 100 fans from cosmetics firm Avon any day now.

Troops are working in stifling hot conditions.

Readers responded in typically-generous style when we published an appeal from Judith Creasey, Joe's grandmother.

The 20-year-old had asked her to contact the Observer asking readers to donate the fans to keep him and his colleagues cool in temperatures regularly topping 50 degrees centigrade.

One kind elderly lady brought in 20 fans she had purchased and thoughtfully returned later that day with enough batteries to keep them buzzing until Christmas.

Joe, a former High School pupil, remembered readers' generosity after receiving packages from the Observer's Supporting Our Troops campaign several months ago.

He has been told he will be coming home in October. Joe is currently in Basra.

His family were heartbroken when he was sent back to Iraq after initially being allowed home in June.

Mrs Creasey said: "Thank you to all the people of Bexhill for helping the troops out with these fans.

"Our boys are still in danger and I know I speak for every mother, father and grandparent when I say we will be very glad when they are back in their barracks."

Judith said British troops seem to suffer more than Americans from a lack of resources and equipment, adding if it wasn't for kind people like Observer readers our soldiers would be very uncomfortable in the tough conditions.