THE mother of a British soldier fighting in Iraq is showing her support for the troops by covering her hedge in an abundance of yellow ribbons.

Sandra Hewitt, of Kibble Bank, Burnley, decided to display the tribute after she received a letter from her son Stephen.

The 20-year-old is a Radio Op in the Signals, based in Wales, and has been in the Gulf for five weeks.

Sandra said: "I wanted to do something but didn't know what to do. I remembered the song 'Tie a Yellow Ribbon' and then went from there.

"I went to some florists and bought some yellow ribbon and made lots of bows for the hedge.

"People have stopped in their tracks to look and the number of people honking their horns as they have driven past has been overwhelming."

Stephen, who has a sister, Kelly, 17, and younger brother Trevor, 14, a former pupil at Mansfield High School, Brierfield, joined the army after starting an apprenticeship with a security firm.

Sandra said: "Sometimes you just wish he never made that visit to the careers office, but it is what he wanted to do and he loves doing it so I give him all my support."

She has received letters from Stephen letting her know his latest progress.

In a letter on Saturday, he said he wouldn't be able to write again because of military movements. He told her not to worry and that he loved her.

Sandra added: "It breaks your heart every time you get a letter but I would rather know that he is safe and well. In the letter he told me he hasn't received the parcels I have been sending but that he was all right and I shouldn't worry about him -- easy for him to say, as a mother there's nothing else you can do but worry."