GURKHAS serving in Afghanistan have thanked ex-service folk from Malmesbury for organising an appeal to send them parcels of goodies.

Actress and Gurkha champion Joanna Lumley gave her personal backing to the scheme launched back in October by Malmesbury and Sherston Royal British Legion as members of 94 Queens Own Gurkha Logistic Regt at Hullavington prepared to leave for the war zone.

Now the soldiers are well into their deployment and one of them stationed at Camp Bastion, Cpl Raju Midhun, has written on behalf of his grateful colleagues.

A delighted branch chairman Derek Tilney told the Standard: "Raju has written thanking us for our support and saying how they enjoyed the contents of the parcels.

"When we knew that the Gurkhas from Buckley Barracks were going to Afghanistan as part of Operation Herrick we found that 38 were single boys and so quite unlikely to get parcels from their homes in Nepal.

"So with a list of names and exactly where they were stationed we resolved to send them some small things to show we appreciated what they were doing so far from home."

The appeal, launched in the Standard, raised more than £1,200 in the space of two months and brought letters of support for the Gurkhas from far and wide.

Members of the branch were able to buy toiletries, snacks and little luxuries, which were packaged along with a personal note and sent out.

"When the volunteers were packing the parcels, several of the ex-servicemen recalled how hard it was when some of their comrades got post and they didn’t," said Mr Tilney. "They knew how much the parcels would be appreciated, especially as they were addressed to each individual.

"We hope now that they all return home safe and perhaps we will meet up with some of them."