THE battle for hearts and minds and distributing aid is now the agenda for British forces in Iraq.

Corporal Barry Kennedy, 32, of Church Hill, who has been in the Royal Air Force for 12 years, is part of that agenda.

The former Abbey High School student left his Loxley Close family three weeks before the Gulf War started.

Barry, a lifelong Birmingham City fan, has been posted with his regiment all over Europe including Germany, Holland, Ireland and Kosovo but missed the last Gulf war as he was not old enough for the conflict.

Mrs Kennedy received her latest letter from her son a week ago and has been sending toiletries, shower gel and luxuries at every opportunity.

Corporal Kennedy's sister Paula, 34, a mature university student in nursing, is also helping out by sending letters with her fellow student nurses.

And the lucky corporal has also been sent copies of the Advertiser to keep him up with local issues.