​Hundreds of gifts and handwritten letters have been sent from a generous Upton-St-Leonards granny with love to soldiers serving on the frontline in Afghanistan.

In September, The Citizen reported that Margaret Lonie, of Bondend Road, had splashed out her £25 Premium Bond prize money to buy items for our Gifts for Our Boys appeal.

But she didn’t stop there – Margaret has collected hundreds more gifts for the troops.

The 75-year-old said: “I have a huge amount of gifts to send. I would say about 200 boxes and I have a few bags full of individual items too.

“A lot of people have given me things from the village of Upton-St-leonards and I have lots of stuff from Morrisons in Abbeydale too.

"I have also been writing letters to put in each of the boxes just to show how proud we are of the soldiers and what they are doing, I just think it is a nice thing to do for them.”

She has collected shower gel, toothpaste, toothbrushes and chocolate drinks and is asking more people to help outstart collecting for the cause.

Margaret, who is married to Willie and has two sons, Kenneth and Craig, and four grandchildren, added: “I have been so pleased with the interest of people but we still need more things.

There seems to be a bit of a drop since Christmas but the soldiers are still there and need these gifts to help boost morale.” “Everything helps and it is such a worthwhile cause for people to get involved with.”

The Gifts for Our Boys appeal was launched by Nikki Hennessy and Tiz Taylor, both mums of soldiers from Gloucester.

Nikki, whose 21-year-old son Allyn Harris is out in Afghanistan with 4 Rifles, from Stroud Road, popped round to Margaret’s house to collect her contribution.

She said: “Mrs Lonie has done loads, she has collected so many items and it must keep her really busy. She even writes a hand-written note in each. I think it keeps the soldiers and her going – it is amazing.”

“I have to say a big thank-you to her and everybody that sent things in for their help.”

Gifts can be taken to the Baker Street pub in Southgate Street, Gloucester, or to the offices of The Citizen, at 6-8 The Oxebode, Gloucester.