Observer launches campaign to help our war heroes

We aim to send shoe boxes full of much-needed supplies directly to our lads in the desert and want the whole town to get behind us.

Toothpaste, soap and other little luxuries we take for granted are in desperate short supply in Iraq as our troops survive on basic rations in the most spartan and hostile conditions imaginable.

Packages from home are a vital morale booster and contain those small essentials which make our lads' lives a bit more comfortable as they go about their unenviable job.

We're asking Observer readers to donate the supplies and empty shoeboxes for us to ship out to the golf.

The parcels will go straight to the Bexhill soldiers in Iraq who we've featured in the past fortnight and their families are backing our Supporting Our Troops campaign. They can either use the items themselves or pass them on to colleagues or Iraqi civilians.

Items we're looking for include, toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, foot cream, talc, antiseptic, tissues, soap, dried foods such as Pot Noodles, razors and any other items readers think would be useful.

Marion Mitchell-Davis, whose 25-year-old son Robin is on the front line with the Royal Engineers, said: "I think it's a wonderful idea."

We want to send the packages to every Bexhill troop in Iraq and any relatives of service personnel we haven't mentioned can contact us on 01424 730555.

The items can be left at Sainsbury's or our Sackville Road office.

Full shoe boxes can be donated but must weigh less than 2kg and must not contain the sender's address for security reasons.