Shoeboxes full of treats bring joy to underprivileged children at Christmas but Cath Newman of the Devizes branch of the Royal British Legion believes our troops need cheering up all year round.

She is organising a collection of shoeboxes full of items that will make the lives of servicemen and servicewomen currently deployed in Afghanistan and Iraq more bearable.

Cotton underpants and wet wipes are among the luxuries appealed for, but there are many things that soldiers long for in the long, hot days on duty in the Middle East.

Mrs Newman, a county standard bearer for the RBL, said: "We have got over 8,000 troops serving in Afghanistan alone and life can be very hard for them.

"If we can make them feel as though the people back home are thinking of them are care for them, their jobs will be made that much easier.

"People think the Royal British Legion is all about poppies and Remembrance Sunday, but we care also for the ones who are serving now and our work goes on all year."

The shoebox appeal takes a leaf out of the book of the hugely successful Operation Christmas Child organised by the Christian charity Samaritan's Purse, whereby boxes of presents are sent to underprivileged children all over the world, but mainly in eastern Europe.

Mrs Newman, who is working in conjunction with Calne RBL, is very specific about what can be included in the boxes.

Men's cotton underpants, cotton socks, women's knickers, unperfumed roll-on deodorant, shaving oil (as it is sometimes difficult to find water for a wet shave), disposal razors, wet wipes, toothpaste, toothbrushes, shower gel, hair bands, combs, hairbrushes, pantie liners, sanitary towels, puzzle books, notelets, chewing gum, small packets of tissues, boiled sweets, Vaseline (particularly the jars with green or yellow caps), lip salve, shampoo, cereal bars, Pot Noodles, emery boards, teabags and sachets of coffee.

There is a particular request for flip-flops as ordinary sandals have a very short life in the temperatures out there.

No names or addresses should be included in the boxes for security reasons.

Filled boxes can be dropped into the Gazette office in Devizes. For more information, Mrs Newman can be contacted on (01380) 729360.