They may be serving their country thousands of miles away, but soldiers of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders have received a reminder from home.

An airlift of gifts from Canterbury - where the regiment is based at Howe Barracks - has gone to Helmand province in Afghanistan.

Operation Parcel Force was launched by Canterbury Round Table after complaints from some soldiers of a shortage of mail from home.

Round Table annual dinner organiser Digby Williams, a former serving soldier with the Queen’s Regiment, drew up an inventory of essential items he and colleagues felt would help the troops.

Shoebox size parcels were put together, with sponsored support, at a total cost of only £300.

The individual parcels contained wet wipes, alcohol rub gel, flannels, toothpaste, tooth brushes, white T-shirts and tins of Batchelors Super Noodles.

The parcels contained a letter from the tablers wishing the troops a successful tour of duty and a safe return to their Canterbury base.

Kevin Post, local branch chairman, said: “This has proved a very worthwhile exercise.

“Several of us were concerned to read that some of the troops were unhappy with the shortage of mail they were receiving at their base in Afghanistan.

“We decided to do something about it and the support we received from wonderful.”

The two main sponsors of parcel contents were the St Dunstan’s Dental Practice, Canterbury, and Wightman and Parrish Ltd, of Hailsham, East Sussex.

The Argylls are due to return to Howe Barracks in October from their six-month tour of duty.