PEOPLE in Kent are being encouraged to fly the Union Flag and wear yellow ribbons in support of the troops by a mother whose son is serving in Iraq.

Sue Lassman, 39, from Sheerness, has a son in the 2nd Royal Tank Regiment who is currently fighting in the Gulf.

Stephen Lassman, 19, flew out to the Middle East on March 5, but his mother has not heard from her son since the conflict began.

The mother-of-four works for the Kent Home Improvements centre in Sheerness High Street, where the Union Flag is proudly on display outside.

She said: "The response has been very positive, but I would like to see more visible support for the troops. We have had some people coming in and asking when England is playing.

"When England plays football flags are flying everywhere. It would be really good for morale if more flags were flying. If we can do it for our footballers, then we can do it for our brave troops."

In another show of solidarity with British forces, the mother of a serviceman has made 100 yellow ribbons and decorated the front of T's Leisure arcade in Sheerness with a Union Flag and messages of support.

Jackie Ferris' son is stationed on HMS Ocean in the Gulf. Sam Baker, 22, is an engineer in the Royal Navy and has been aboard ship for the past 90 days. Mrs Ferris managed to speak to her son last Friday and said: "I am feeling a little better about what is happening now. It looked for a moment that the war may go on for a while, but our troops now seem in control."