Soldiers serving in Afghanistan are in line to receive boxes full of Christmas goodies thanks to a young Sheppey boy.

Ten-year-old James Taylor has launched Treats for Troops and is appealing to Islanders to donate shoe boxes filled with gifts to send to his uncle Damian Phillips and his fellow soldiers, who won’t be home for Christmas.

James, of Winstanley Road, Sheerness, and a pupil at West Minster Primary School, came up with the idea after saying farewell to his uncle, who is in the Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment, on his departure for Afghanistan in September.

This Christmas will be the first time in James’s young life he has not seen 28-year-old Damian, from Snodland, over the festive season.

“He thought it would be nice to send a shoe box out to cheer Damian up and put a smile on his face,” said James’s mum, Amanda Taylor, “but he didn’t want the others to feel left out and decided to collect as many shoe boxes as possible to send.”

James, who has ASD (autistic spectrum disorder) is launching Treats for Troops at the Nore pub, St George’s Avenue, Sheerness, on Wednesday, November 30, when people are invited to bring along their filled shoe boxes.

Amanda, also mother to one-year-old daughter Lyla, said she was “very proud” of her son.

“It bring tears to my eyes that he wants to do this,” she said.

Favourite items on soldiers’ wish lists include cotton socks, shower gel and wet wipes.

Other acceptable items are shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, shaving cream, mouthwash, disposable razors, stationery, antiseptic creams and talcum powder, small packets of tissues, antibacterial hand gel, lip balm and sunblock.

You can also include gifts such as magazines, playing cards, board games a nd puzzle books.

Boxes, which have to be sent out on December 2, cannot weigh more than 2kg. They should not include aerosols, alcohol, chocolate or fresh produce.

• For more details, contact The Nore on 01795 662509