The mother behind a website offering support to families of Scottish troops serving in Iraq says she has been "overwhelmed" by the response. Agnes Hunter said the Gulf Families Support Group was bringing people together and offering a shoulder to cry on.
In the first few days it has received messages of support from people across the UK - and even in America.
The idea grew out of the Ayr mother's efforts to abolish charges for posting parcels to troops in the Gulf.
Her own 19-year-old son Scott is currently serving with the 16 Air Assault Brigade.
Wider support
Mrs Hunter told BBC Scotland that she initially approached local and national newspapers to seek support.
"I knew how I was feeling with my son being away and I thought there must be other mums, dads, brothers and sisters out there who want to have a shoulder to cry on or just want to have a chat," she explained.
"We got a good response to the articles and a company came forward to offer to set up a website for us to provide wider support for people in the same situation as myself and all the people who have contacted me."
 We have had some really nice emails from people who don't have relatives but are there to support us  |
She said the reaction to the website had been "absolutely overwhelming". "I never thought that it would take off the way it has."
Mrs Hunter said people the length and breadth of the UK were visiting the site, which had also received hits from people in America.
"I read all the emails coming in and it is so heartening to hear from people who have relatives there, and from those who don't," she said.
"We have had some really nice emails from people who don't have relatives but are there to support us."
She said her daughter had made contact with people who she hoped to meet when she went to university through the site.
Message board
"Even from the few people I have been in regular contact with since it started, I would say that we have probably formed friendships for life," said Mrs Hunter.
The website contains a message board as well as contact details for members of the support group and links to the forces' own websites.
Mrs Hunter said she thought it had brought people closer together.
Many of those who had been in contact were keen to set up wrapping and collection points in their area for the parcels being sent to the Gulf.
I would say that we have probably formed friendships for life |
"To me it is like invoking the wartime spirit that my mum and dad used to talk about," she said. "If we can do that and put smiles on people's faces that will be good."
The website is also being used to seek support for the families' campaign to secure for free postage for those parcels.
Mrs Hunter said it cost �6.89 to send a 2kg package - the maximum weight which can be posted under the current arrangements.
She wants families to be allowed to send packages weighing up to 10kg for free.
Clean skin
Families have been receiving requests for a range of items, from batteries and razor blades to sweets and high-energy foods.
However, Mrs Hunter said the top request was for a less obvious product - baby wipes.
"They need to keep their skin clean and there's no showering facilities. It's not the Hilton," she explained.
A spokesman for the Ministry of Defence pointed out that it was free to send letters to troops in the Gulf.
He said parcels had always been charged at the domestic rate, but that this issue was under consideration after being raised in parliament.
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