ST JOHN'S student Jess Pittams has received civic blessing from Marlborough mayor Margaret Boulton for her idea of sending sweets for Iraqi children.

Jess, 11, who lives in Mildenhall is raising money to buy sweets to send to Iraq.

Her grandfather, Sir Leslie Loader, who thought of the idea, has called it Sweets For Friendship.

Sir Leslie, who is a Second World War veteran, believes the sweets could pave the way for young Iraqis to regard Britain as a friend and not an aggressor.

Jess is asking all her friends at St John's to help by giving money to buy sweets with.

She said: "We were talking about how we might help children in Iraq and Grandpa suggested this I thought it was a good idea and when I mentioned it all my friends thought so too."

Her grandfather launched the appeal with a £50 donation.

She said: "With the help of the mayor I am hoping other children in Marlborough will support the idea and give money."

Sir Leslie, who will be 80 this month, said: "The whole point of this is that we want to win peace in Iraq and this is one way that young people can help.

"We want the children in Iraq to know that we are friendly towards them so that the terrorists cannot turn them against us and what better way than to send them sweets?"

Coun Boulton praised Jess for her initiative and said the idea had her whole-hearted support.

"It is importantpeople give money not sweets," she said.

Sir Leslie had been planning to ask the Army or RAF to take the sweets to Iraq for the troops to distribute and welcomed the newsthey could be sent out by the Treats For The Troops organisers at Colerne. He said: "That is just what we want."

Anyone wishing to provide sweets can drop them off at the Gazette's office at 42 Kingsbury Street, Marlborough.