Letters of thanks and photographs showing the living conditions from our brave troops in Iraq and Afghanistan have been steadily arriving at the Hikers Rest in Coldean Lane, Coldean.

All year, pub regulars and landlady and landlord Andrea and Shaun Manthorpe have been busy filling shoeboxes with useful items of food, sweets and toiletries to help our troops while on duty abroad.

Andrea said it was really nice to receive letters from them, and a lot of them are from female troops.

She said: "We put the letters on display for everyone to read.

"Some say they will pop in for a drink, which would be nice. We just wish them a safe return."