TODAY the Dorset Echo backs a campaign to support our soldiers serving abroad.

This Christmas two battalions from the Rifles regiment will serve in Iraq and Afghanistan.

We are asking every reader to help support a Christmas parcel appeal and brighten up this year's festive season for our brave servicemen and women.

A MOTHER and councillor has launched a campaign to send morale-boosting Christmas parcels to Dorset's armed forces.

Dorchester town councillor and West Dorset district councillor Molly Rennie wants to increase support for the national Support Our Soldiers parcel appeal.

She is asking people to fill shoeboxes with gifts, games and Christmas messages for servicemen spending Christmas abroad.

The Dorset Echo is backing the campaign and we are asking readers to get going with shoeboxes and be as generous as possible.

Coun Rennie is running the campaign with her husband John. Their son Alexander, 35, has served abroad with the Rifles regiment in countries including Iraq.

Coun Rennie said: "This is a chance for people in Dorset to show that they care about these people. I would suggest everybody does it.

"I would like to be able to send boxes to Dorset soldiers. I just know the sense of community here is marvellous and I think people will get behind this."

The Dorset Echo is backing the campaign and we are asking readers to get going with shoeboxes and be as generous as possible.

Echo editor David Murdock said: "We fully support this initiative to bring a little Christmas cheer to our troops who will be abroad and away from their families.

"It may seem a little odd to be talking about the festive season in July, but these things do take time to organise. We urge people to do their bit."

Support Our Soldiers was founded in 2003 by two women whose sons were serving in Iraq. The aim was to encourage and provide support for British troops serving abroad and their families at home.

The organisation, whose patron is top model Nell McAndrew, was granted official charity status in 2007.

It runs an annual Christmas parcel appeal which last year saw more than 15,000 packages sent to British troops abroad.

Coun Rennie said it was possible to identify where Dorset soldiers were serving in the two war-torn countries.

She is hoping to get between 400 and 600 boxes for soldiers, containing anything from shower gel and boiled sweets to toothpaste, quiz books or packs of cards. Coun Rennie said: "This is a way for people to show they care for people in our local regiment.

"We are looking for morale-boosting messages in these boxes, like telling soldiers what's going on at home on the day you packed the box."

Boxes can be donated to Dorchester Town Council in North Square, Dorchester or The Keep Military Museum, Bridport Road, Dorchester. You can also take them to any Dorset Echo office and we will forward them to Coun Rennie.

The offices are on the Granby Estate, Weymouth, St Mary Street, Weymouth, Antelope Walk, Dorchester and East Street, Bridport.

For more information on the national campaign and the size and weight of the boxes and what can be included in them go to www.supportoursoldiers.co.uk