SOLDIERS who will be away from their families this Christmas will be able to enjoy some festive cheer thanks to the generosity of the people of Bolton.

More than 500 boxes full of treats are now on their way to troops to Afghanistan.

The Mayor of Bolton, Cllr Colin Shaw, was on hand to see the final dispatch of the comfort boxes, which brings to a close the campaign that started in 2006 to send necessities and luxuries to serving soldiers as troops prepare to withdraw from Afghanistan.

Since then 13,000 boxes have been sent from the Bolton barracks filled with goods worth more than £120,000. The appeal was started by veteran Jack Dixon, who served as a sergeant with the Royal Artillery Association.

Since then it has become the country’s biggest co-ordinated effort to bring comfort to troops serving in the wartorn country.

Mr Dixon, from Breightmet, said: “I never thought the appeal would get this big, I thought it would be a one off. I received so many letters of thanks after the first boxes had been dispatched.

“They brought tears to my eyes. I remember when I received a box when I was serving in Malaya and how it felt. These boxes showed that people back were thinking of them.”

He said not only did the soldiers need the goods from a practical point of view but would also share them with local children.

Mr Dixon co-ordinated the appeal with the help of Keith Moss, Susan Green and Rick Adamson and also his late wife Lily had helped.

Often the same people would donate year-after-year to the appeal.

The Chairman of the Central Lancashire Branch of the Royal Artillery Association, said: “The people of Bolton and beyond have been very generous in their support. Now this appeal is over, we want to help soldiers when they come back and to approach us if they need advice and information.”