NEIGHBOURS, family and friends of Lance Corporal Richard Brandon - killed in action in Afghanistan - have set up a shoebox appeal in his memory for soldiers serving in the country.

They have sent more than 50 boxes of goodies, including toiletries, sweets and morale-boosting items.

Natasha Williams, who helped set up the appeal, said she wanted to do something to remember 24-year-old Lance Corporal Brandon, who was killed by a roadside bomb last month.

“Richard lived up the road from my mum and dad,” she added, ” As he was so local to us and we knew him quite well, we decided that we had to do something in his memory.

“The soldiers are out there doing a good job so we decided to set up a shoebox appeal to send goods to the other soldiers out there.”

Mrs Williams, of Offmore Estate, said once she was given permission to organise the appeal by L/Cpl Brandon’s fiancee, Emma-Jayne Webster, she asked neighbours and friends to donate items.

“Everyone was willing to donate something,” the 32-year-old added, ”The response was very good. Everyone was very willing.

“My colleagues on the day case ward at Worcestershire Royal Hospital also teamed up with other departments to donate items.

“One of my colleagues also lost her son, Private Jason Williams, in Afghanistan so we did the appeal for the two soldiers.”

She added the boxes were sent from Worcester as her father, Melvin Hartshorne, is a former Royal Mail employee.

“My dad asked Royal Mail in Blackpole if they would accept the boxes for us and they said yes.”

Mrs Williams added she was hoping to send more boxes to the soldiers in Afghanistan in time for Christmas.