Parcels are key to maintaining morale, campaigners say

Many army families have signed a petition asking the government to pick up the bill for sending post to troops based overseas.

The leader of the Liberal Democrats, Sir Menzies Campbell has also called for the current policy to be changed.

But the government says troops opted for free phone calls instead.

The leader of the campaign, Helen Tyrell, says a free postal service would be a way of supplying soldiers with "essentials".

"It's costing an absolute fortune for a lot of families to be sending stuff out, which are essential goods that they need.

"Give these boys what they want - free post from us, so they can have the essentials that they need, or give them what they need out there so we don't have to spend an absolute fortune sending it out to them."

Troop morale

But Sir Menzies insisted the service should be offered free.

"It is a national disgrace that the brave young men and women who risk their lives for this country are being taken for granted by this government," he said.

"Sometimes it is the small straw that breaks the camel's back. Who would have thought that the Ministry of Defence would charge loved ones exorbitant prices for sending care parcels to those in the field? It is a disgrace."

Defence minister Derek Twigg said: "We go to great lengths to make sure our personnel are well looked after.

"We constantly ask the troops how we can make life a little bit easier, and time and again they say it's more internet and phone access they want. And that's what they are getting.