A FAMILY-RUN bakery is aiming to raise the spirits of British troops in Afghanistan, by sending them shoeboxes full of goodies.

Barkes Craft Bakery, in the Ladygate Centre, Wickford, is collecting toiletries, sweets, crisps, writing paper and small gifts to pack into empty shoeboxes for soldiers on the front line.

Kevin Barke, 54, runs the bakery with wife, Linda, and their grown-up children, Darell and Sonja. They came up with the idea after he spent time working out in Afghanistan for the charity, Warchild.

He had the task of baking 26,000 loaves every day for refugees displaced by the fighting. Darell said: “Dad got to see it wasn’t only refugees who were in need.

“He saw how many of our troops on the front line are in desperate need of basic necessities such as shampoo, shaving cream and treats like biscuits and crisps.

“We got in touch with the Army and have arranged to send as many boxes as we can to members of 7 Para and the Royal Horse Artillery who are serving in Helmand province, in the south of the country.”

The Barke family are appealing to residents to donate new toiletries and other goods which can be packed into boxes.

They also need more empty cardboard shoeboxes in which to pack the goodies.

Darell added: “Anyone who can help by bringing in goods for the cause would be greatly appreciated.

“We’ve already sent off about 15 boxes and we want to send a lot more.”