A selfless British National Party activist in Maryport has spent months making up parcels for British troops serving in Afghanistan who have no families to send them treats, reports North West regional organiser Clive Jefferson. The parcels are funded by ordinary BNP members.

“The members who took part in both BNP delegate trips to the European Parliament all gave small donations to help support our troops serving abroad,” Mr Jefferson said.

Speaking after receiving a cheque for £200 from party leader Nick Griffin MEP, Mr Jefferson said the money will be used to send Christmas treats for our service personnel.

“I would like to thank everyone who has donated this time and over the previous year to this worthy cause. I would also like to thank another group of unsung heroes, the ladies who have been organising and sending over the parcels for the past 18 months,” he said.

“The collection will now become a regular part of our European delegation trips. When we pay our respects for past sacrifices at the World War One memorials on the trips to Europe, it is only right to think of the British solders still fighting today.”

The money is given to a member from Maryport who has a close relative serving in Afghanistan. The BNP activist knows what items troops need and, along with a group of dedicated ladies throughout the North West, collects boxes of toiletries, chocolates and other essentials.

“They are then made up into parcels and sent to troops who have no family to send them things. The first parcels have already been dispatched from the £200 collection and the rest of the money will be used to fill the ‘wish lists’ of other soldiers in the near future,” Mr Jefferson said.