Mum Karen Webster, of Bingley, has 200 babies! They're the start of a cuddly toy appeal for the children of Iraq, sparked by all the heartbreak pictures on television.

Karen is aiming to get 1,000 Beanie Babies as part of a Send a Smile campaign.

And a week after starting the appeal on her website called - www.supportoursoldiers.co.uk - she already has 200.

She said: " I have children of my own and I know how adorable the Beanie Babies are. They have given my children a lot of enjoyment and I hope they do so for the children of Iraq as well.

"At the start of the war we wanted support for the soldiers, now we have moved on to help the children of Iraq.

"We have all seen the TV coverage of children in awful conditions and cannot fail to be moved by those images."

She said Beanies were perfect because they appealed to all ages and came in lots of different animal designs.

Karen appealed for people to send her Beanie Babies, and also needed are crayons, pens and pencils.

Donations can be sent to: SOS/Chhugs, PO Box 70, Shipley. BD18 1 YE. Virgin boss Richard Branson has offered to deliver them for free.

Karen's son Nicky, serving with the Desert Rats, celebrates his 21st birthday later this month.