THE Ilkley mother of a military policeman serving in Iraq is asking Ilkley residents to contribute to a fund helping servicemen still on duty in the Gulf.

Former Ilkley Grammar School pupil Corporal Darren Harvey-Hill, of the 1st Regiment Royal Military Police, recently wrote to his family telling them many of the servicemen were not being sent parcels of home comforts and essentials by their relatives.

He said some of the servicemen missed having items such as shaving foam, travel wash liquid, and other goods which were usually sent by their families. However, relatives believed they were unable to send parcels while their loved ones were involved in Operation Telic.

Cpl Harvey-Hill said few had begun to send parcels to those overseeing ongoing peacekeeping and relief efforts in Iraq, even though hostilities had now ended.

He wanted to ask generous people from his home town to send out parcels which he could then distribute to servicemen - but a Ministry of Defence spokeswoman said this could cause logistical problems, and has instead advised any donors to contribute to the recently-founded Gulf Fund, which supports UK services personnel in Iraq.

Cpl Harvey-Hill's mother, Susan Hill, of Hampshire Close, is asking Ilkley people to help those British servicemen still out in Iraq by contributing to the fund.

She said: "I think it would mean a lot to them."

Mrs Hill spoke of her fears for her son as British and American forces moved into Iraq, which came just weeks after the death of her stepfather.

She said: "I was coming home from work and putting Sky News on all day, not knowing whereabouts he was. They couldn't tell us where he was.

"I could write to him but it would take that long, and it was about four or five weeks before I heard anything back from him."

Cpl Harvey-Hill got married in January and plans to go on honeymoon with his wife, Gillian, when his regiment returns from Iraq later this year. He has previously served in Bosnia and Northern Ireland.

Donations to the Gulf Fund can be made by completing a donation form - which can be printed our from the MOD website - and sending it to UK Forces Gulf Fund, FREEPOST TN2257, West Malling, Kent, ME19 4TA.

Donations can be made by calling (0800) 1070200, or on the MOD website at www.mod.uk.

RIGHT: Ilkley's Corporal Darren Harvey-Hill on duty in Bosnia.