GENEROUS Shotley residents have helped to stockpile a huge number of items for our Gifts for the Gulf campaign – amounting to 32 more morale-boosting parcels.

By Debbie Watson

GENEROUS Shotley residents have helped to stockpile a huge number of items for our Gifts for the Gulf campaign – amounting to 32 more morale-boosting parcels.

Margaret Docherty, who was once a military wife herself, spearheaded the village initiative in an effort to help our troops.

Today she has wrapped up the Shotley project and handed over the packages to The Evening Star, congratulating the villagers on their support.

"I was just amazed by how great the generosity of all the people in the village was," she said.

"One minute I was making a passing comment about how it would be nice to collect together a few bits for our boys and girls, and the next I was being inundated with deliveries to my home.

"People were just so keen to contribute. In fact, in the end I've had to tie things up because my house was just over-run with things."

After pooling together contributions of money and specific items, Margaret has been left with a small amount of money which she now plans to donate to the British Legion.

"It's fantastic to think that we've been able to do something constructive for all those men and women," she added.

Margaret's latest contribution to the Star's effort comes as families learn they will now be able to send parcels to their loved ones for free.

The Armed Forces Minister Adam Ingram has said a free postal service to Armed Forces personnel in the Gulf will start on Thursday.

The Evening Star is no longer asking for donations for the cost of posting and packing our Gifts for the Gulf. Already, we have sent more than 100 parcels to our men and women in the forces.