NEW wristbands to support Lincolnshire troops ahead of a deployment to Afghanistan have been launched.

The 2nd Battalion Royal Anglian Regiment – known as the Poachers – has created the accessory in a bid to drum up cash and support ahead of being made the Army's official reserve battalion for the war-torn nation.

The bands are black and gold. The gold half of the rubber bracelets says "The Poachers", while the darker side is emblazoned with the word "Afghanistan". The words are flanked by a sphinx on either side.

They were sold at Armed Forces Day on Saturday, raising £900.

Sergeant Nathan Cass, of the Poachers, who works in the recruitment office in Lincoln, said it was a great success.

He said: "All the money raised from sales of the £2 wristbands will go towards supporting the families of injured or killed soldiers, so getting £900 on Saturday was a great achievement.

"With the Poachers being a local battalion, there are lots of family and friends who live in the area, so whenever they see anything with the Poachers on it, they show their support."

The wristbands are available from the Armed Forces Career office in High Street, Lincoln. It is hoped they will also be sold in shops around the county, but cash boxes to collect the money are needed first.

So far, a total of £4,500 has been raised through sales on Saturday, elsewhere in the country and in the battalion's current home in Germany.

As reported in the Echo, the entire unit will move to Cyprus in August, where they will be on standby for the next 12 months for deployment to Afghanistan.

It is the second time the troops have created a wristband, with the last appeal raising £20,000.

Commanding officer of the battalion Lieutenant Colonel Ralph Wooddisse said: "In August this year we will move to Cyprus from where we will provide the reserve battalion for operations in southern Afghanistan.

"The Poachers will hold this responsibility for 12 months and expect to have members of the battalion fighting in Afghanistan throughout the year.

"This, coupled with the huge stress of operations in Helmand where casualties are all too frequent, makes massive demands on young soldiers and their families."

Lincoln MP Karl McCartney backed the appeal, saying: "Our county's troops do a marvellous and difficult job on our behalf and deserve our support, especially those who have been injured.

"The wristbands are an excellent idea and I would urge everyone in Lincoln to buy one and wear it with pride."

To donate to the appeal, send a cheque, payable to Central Bank 2 R Anglian, to Wristband Appeal, 2 R Anglian, Trenchard Barracks, BFPO 23.