SOLDIERS in war-torn Afghanistan will be able to keep in contact with their loved ones back home thanks to the generosity of a group of Burnley businesses.

The Mayor of Burnley, Coun Anthony Lambert, presented soldiers from the Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment with £3,000 worth of communication equipment, including five laptops with webcams, two digital projectors, and a notepad computer.

The equipment was donated by a number of Burnley-based businesses, including Warburtons, Aircelle, Samuel Cookes Oil, Crow Wood Leisure Centre, Riley’s Catering, and Veka PLC, at a special ceremony at Burnley Town Hall on Tuesday.

Burnley Football Club also donated pennants for each soldier.

Commanding Officer of the regiment, Lt Col Andrew Kennedy, who will lead the troops out for active duty in Afghanistan in coming months, said: “There have been many times when I have stood in front of soldiers far away from home and told them that people at home are thinking of us and we can’t let them down.

“Events like this just highlight how much support there is for us.”