AN Afghan hero paid tribute to the pensioners aiding troops on the front line.

Paratrooper Stephen Handley has thanked a pensioner couple for sending dozens of care packages to troops on the frontline in Afghanistan.

Rita Porter, 75, and her 78-year-old husband Cyril Porter have put together 62 shoeboxes full of goods in the last four months.

The Newsome couple have delivered the packages – including items such as playing cards, toothpaste and pot noodles – to the Spotted Cow in Salendine Nook.

Landlady Joanna Flanagan has organised the shoebox collections to help one of her regular customers Stephen, who has been on duty in Afghanistan.

Rita said yesterday: “I read about the shoebox collection in the Examiner and I was all for helping the lads because I think it’s a good cause.

“We put in things like roll-on deodorants, toothpaste, pot noodles, sweets, Yorkshire mixtures and dominoes.

Private Henry Harris, 25, of 3 Para, wrote to the Porters thanking them for their care packages.

Rita said: “I got a lovely letter from him. He’s from Herefordshire and he said he had never had Yorkshire mixtures before.

“It was good to get the letter, it gave us an incentive to continue.”

The Porters met Stephen for the first time at the Spotted Cow yesterday afternoon.

The Para is currently on a short break in his six-month tour.