IT'S 1000 not out for two Ipswich florists who have been sending welfare boxes to our troops in Afghanistan.

IT'S 1000 not out for two Ipswich florists who have been sending welfare boxes to our troops in Afghanistan.

Sally Brame and Jayne Smith, of Cottage Garden Florists in Bramford Lane have reached the landmark achievement by supporting members of 2 Para.

The pair began sending boxes full of useful items to British servicemen in November. Since then they've notched up more than 1,000 parcels.

Mrs Brame said: “We want to raise a toast to the soldiers out there because they're doing such an amazing job.

“It's important that they know we appreciate what they are doing and we send them cuttings whenever we're featured in the newspaper.

“They deserve our help and we will continue to help for as long as they are out there.”

The soldiers can work up to 14 hours a day in up to 50 degree heat and do shifts of four hours on four hours off for a 36 hour period, so receiving much needed items from home is vitally important to them.

Mrs Brame and Mrs Smith recently had their first visit at the shop from a grateful Para.

Mrs Brame said: “He came to thank us for what we are doing and asked us to please continue because it's so important as a morale boost for them all.”

A recent collection outside Asda in Ipswich raised £611 and last week saw a massive effort to provide items for boxes at Warren Heath's Sainsbury's store.

On Friday August 15 Mrs Brame and Mrs Smith will be back collecting at Sainsbury's - this time for 11 hours.

Coes of Ipswich has offered to put aside all its empty shoeboxes but Mrs Brame and Mrs Smith are always looking for adult shoe boxes and items to fill them.

They can contain anything from shower gel to boiled sweets but boxes must not include aerosols. Anyone who wants to donate some goodies can do so at the shop or by calling 01473 745250.