A COUPLE who send gifts to soldiers serving on the front line have pledged to defy an official request asking them to stop.

Joanne Goody-Orris and her partner Maurice Benton, both 79, were asked by the Ministry of Defence not to send parcels to servicemen and women in Afghanistan because delivering them cost valuable resources.

The couple, who live near Langport, Somerset, have agreed to suspend their efforts in the run-up to Christmas so they do not delay presents sent from relatives.

However, come New Year, Mrs Goody-Orris, said they will start their production line of morale boosting parcels once more.

"The MoD is always saying we do not need to send parcels because the men and women in Afghanistan have got everything they need, but we know they have not," she said.

"The letters that we get from servicemen and women show us these parcels really make a difference.

"These are people living in very basic conditions in Forward Operating Bases (FOBs) out in Afghanistan.

"It's not like they can pop down to Tesco to get what they need."

The couple have become hugely popular with troops in Afghanistan who call them "Jo and Mo" and write heartfelt letters of appreciation.

In the spare bedroom of their bungalow, in a cul-de-sac in Curry Rivel – often jokingly referred to as a branch of the British Forces Post Office, or BFPO15 – the couple carefully keep the 2,000 'blueys' – messages sent through the forces' mail system – they have been sent by soldiers.

Mrs Goody-Orris, a retired lawyer who has a grandson serving in Afghanistan, said the parcels were always sent to named personnel, usually nominated by the Padre.

They started sending the shoebox size packages, loaded with items like sweets, moist wipes and toiletries, to a friend serving in Iraq just over two years ago.

Since then, a total of 5,701 parcels made up with donations they collect from all over the county and each containing a handwritten letter have been dispatched.

In May, the Prince of Wales' Equerry wrote to the couple saying: "The Prince has asked me to send you his best wishes and asked me to add how heartening he found it to read of your generosity in sending parcels to our troops on operations today."

The MoD has found itself in a tricky situation over the work done by "Jo and Mo" and hundreds like them all over Britain.

On one hand they appreciate the kindness to soldiers living in dangerous and usually spartan conditions thousands of miles away from their families.

But a spokeswoman said the parcels created a logistical nightmare, with high volumes delaying mail from relatives and loved ones.

Getting parcels to FOBs was itself difficult, with the extra road convoys or flights potentially putting service personnel at "unjustifiable risk."

She urged people to consider giving donations to organisations like the Operational Welfare Fund, an armed forces charity which delivers home comforts to troops on the ground.

For more information on the charity visit www.bmycharity.com/V2/welfarefund