A WIRRAL mum is holding a special event in a bid to get luxuries to troops serving in Afghanistan.

Nicola Beamish, whose son Luke is in the Mercian regiment, wants to send boxes of food and toiletries to those soldiers who rarely receive parcels from home.

Together with a friend, she has organised to set up a stand outside Tesco Metro in Bebington Road, Bebington on Saturday, September 11 from 12 noon - 4pm.

It is hoped shoppers will pick up a few extra items in store which they can donate to the appeal.

Nicola and her friend Nickie Saint then plan to sort the items into individual shoeboxes to send over to the troops.

The mum-of-three, from Rock Ferry, decided to launch the campaign after joining a group on Facebook called 'Adopt a British Squaddie' and wanted to get involved herself.

She said: "I send stuff over to my son every week but some of the lads don't get anything because they may not have a family. It's not unusual for a high number of soldiers to have been brought up in care and then to have gone straight in the army.

"As a mother, it's heartbreaking to think that some of them don't have anyone here sending them little home comforts.

"When they're over there, they could be off on tour for about two weeks so it's nice to have a box of goodies waiting for them when they return to their base."

Suggested toiletry items to donate are roll-on deodorant, disposable razors, hand-gel, lip balm and cotton buds.

Food items such as crisps, Supernoodles, biscuits, jelly and chewing gum are also a good idea to include.

Nicola is hoping to send as many boxes as possible over to Afghanistan and is appealing to Globe readers to get on board to support the troops.

She said: "I am very passionate about this because I feel these lads deserve and need a little piece of home while they are serving their country. We are hoping that people will put at least one extra item in their trolley and donate it to our boys."