Gift for soldier Lee

A cheque for Â£170 was presented by the women's section of the Little Common Royal British Legion to Lee Hastings of the Grenadier Guards.The ladies managed to raise the money by holding a spontaneous collection during their last general meeting and decided it should be used to buy items for the soldiers now based out in Afghanistan.

Daphne Tebbs, president and secretary of the women's section handed over the cheque to Lee who was accompanied by proud mum Angela, of Salisbury Road.

Daphne said: "We saw the appeal in the Bexhill Observer for people to write to these young lads out there - that is why we decided to do this.

"And we did it for the boys out in Iraq about two years ago. We just felt it was a way of showing our appreciation for what they are doing for us all. The troops are always in our thoughts. They are fighting in very difficult circumstances."

Lee, 23, a former pupil of Bexhill High School, joined the Grenadier Guards having read about the regiment. He came home for two weeks leave and has been catching up with old friends as well as attending a wedding before going back to his regiment which is currently attached to the Royal Anglians in Sangin in the Helmand province of Afghanistan.

He was pleased with reaction to his mother's appeal for Observer readers to write letters to the soldiers stationed out there.

Lee said: "It was brilliant - I have about twelve parcels of letters and boxes and stuff.

"I was very pleased - it's the best thing my mum did!"

He will take the letters with him on his return to Afghanistan and said: "It is not very nice - and it is getting worse now."