Soldier lends support to shoe box appeal

A serviceman is lending his backing to a scheme to help troops fighting on the front line in Afghanistan.

Lance-corporal Daniel Beard, of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, has urged people back home to get involved in the Shoeboxes for Soldiers campaign, according to the Ledbury Reporter.

The scheme is being run by the Traders of Ledbury Association and Mr Beard would like to see people offering small luxuries to the men and women serving overseas.

"These parcels are very important and we’re always very grateful to get them, especially at forward bases where there [is] no access to shops," he explained.

It gives morale a significant lift to know people care enough about the troops to send them over gifts, the Ledbury-born soldier added.

Social justice minister Carl Sargeant recently announced injured troops returning to Wales will receive free bus travel, as the Welsh Assembly looks to support veterans.

Posted by Samantha Thompson