A FUNDRAISING box appeal to send items out to British Troops serving in the Gulf has been launched by an East Lancashire woman.

Marlene Canby decided to set up the appeal because her grandson, 23-year-old Mark Wilkinson, a craftsman in the 26 Royal Engineers, is on stand-by for duty in Iraq.

Mrs Canby, who lives with her husband Bob in Burnley and is a member of the town's Ladies Gulf Support Group, wants to be able to send a raft of boxes containing toiletries out to the men and women serving in Iraq.

She said: "The troops need to know that we are still thinking about them out there and these kinds of things are a great boost to morale."

The group is also raising funds to help pay for the £4.90 postage charge to send the boxes out.

If anybody wants to donate a box they can be taken to the Foresters Arms, Todmorden Road, Burnley.