Determined to let them know people back home are proud of what they are doing, the mother of one soldier decided to organise a Peterborough Supports Heroes campaign.

Now the first consignment of 50 shoeboxes containing morale boosting presents for the brave servicemen and women is on its way.

The campaign was launched by Gloria Aschettino, of Tanglewood, Werrington, after RAF Wittering personnel were banned from wearing uniforms in the city following reports of insults and abuse, and she hated suggestions that Peterborough did not support the troops.

Mrs Aschettino's eldest son, Guiseppe, is a former soldier, and her youngest son, Liam (18), is serving in Afghanistan with the 23rd Engineer Regiment of the 51st Parachute Squadron.

Mrs Aschettino said: "As a mother, you send over stuff for them as you do worry about what they are going through. But some people, for whatever reason, don't have families.

"Liam headed back to Afghanistan last week for another tour of duty and said getting parcels from home made a real difference to everyone out there.

"When Guiseppe came back from Afghanistan, he told me how harrowing it can be over there. That's why I decided to try and make their life a little easier. I have been overwhelmed by the response already."

Mrs Aschettino joined forces with three other friends, Philippa Millard and Janek and Jackie Skutela, who run the Dragon pub in Werrington, and over the last few weeks they have been tirelessly buying items, looking for donations for a forthcoming auction, and frantically packing up the boxes of goodies to be sent out.

Mr Skutela said: "It's great to be able to support our troops overseas."

The community has swung behind the appeal, and the pub has been used as a collection point for items and a place to store the shoeboxes.

Regular Bob Coleman, who works for the Post Office, arranged for the boxes to be collected as part of the British Forces Post Office scheme, a free mail service for the families and friends of service personnel.

The first batch of boxes containing essentials such as underwear, toothpaste, razors, sweets, DVDs, magazines and copies of The Evening Telegraph to keep them up to date with news back home is due to arrive in Helmand province in Afghanistan next week.

Peterborough United have also got behind the appeal, and memorabilia signed by the players will be among items at a charity raffle to be held at the Dragon on August 25.

The city's new B&Q store in Maskew Avenue has also donated £200 worth of garden furniture.

The appeal also touched the hearts of pensioners living in sheltered accommodation at Martin Court and Sweetbriars, in Werrington, who had a whip round to buy items.

n If you want to contribute new items, you can leave them at the Dragon, in Hodgson Centre, Werrington. Cheques should be made payable to "Peterborough Supports Heroes Appeal".