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Weekly collects 400 Christmas shoeboxes for troops

A weekly newspaper’s appeal to help put a smile on the faces of British troops who are serving in Afghanistan has seen more than 400 shoeboxes sent off.

The News Shopper launched its Operation Shoebox campaign last month, asking readers to put together treat-filled boxes to brighten Christmas morning for those serving overseas.

The paper’s offices were used to store all the shoeboxes, which began their three-week journey to Afghanistan earlier this month to ensure they arrive in time for Christmas.

Journalists at the title, pictured below, checked through the 405 boxes to ensure they were suitable for travel and did not contain any prohibited items, such as chocolate, aerosols or alcohol.

Ellie Doyle, Operation Shoebox south east regional co-ordinator, said: “The boys and girls out there get a huge lift when they see how much the public are supporting them.

“Putting aside reasons why they are there, just to know they’re not forgotten is vitally important to any soldier in a foreign land.”

Each box had to weigh no more than 2kg and suggested items for inclusion included magazines, puzzle books, pens, hot chocolate sachets and shower gels.