SHOEBOXES full of goodies from a Worcester school are set to bring joy to children in war-torn Iraq.

Pupils at Manor Park School, in Turnpike Close, St John's, collected shoeboxes crammed with stationery, toys and sweets in September, to be sent to schools in the battle-scarred country.

And the Royal Signals, which is distributing the gifts to the schoolchildren of Umm Qasr, in southern Iraq, has sent home the first photographs of the presents being unloaded.

"We've collected boxes for children in other parts of the world before and its great to help get education equipment to a place where it really matters," said Susan Harrison-Sturt, a teacher at Manor Park.

The project was sparked when Capt Andrew Sturt, serving in Iraq, contacted his mother, Mrs Harrison-Sturt, and told her of the lack of education facilities in Umm Qasr.

Just months after he described the "abject poverty" of the region, the school's aid touched down in Iraq.

"We are now waiting for the end of Ramadan before distributing the aid to a local school," said Capt Sturt.

"We are very grateful to the staff and children of Manor Park School in Worcester for all of the hard work they have put in to collecting the aid.

"My soldiers and I were overwhelmed by the generosity demonstrated, and we are looking forward to bringing a little happiness to the children of Umm Qasr."