THIS is your chance to get behind our troops.

People in the south are being urged to dig deep in their pockets to help the men and women who have put their lives on the line for freedom in Iraq.

A Daily Echo-backed campaign is today being launched in a bid to give welfare support to UK service personnel and their families directly affected by the conflict.

The UK Forces Gulf Fund is particularly relevant to the people of Hampshire as our troops from the Marchwood base in Southampton and Portsmouth Naval Base are involved in the war.

Actress Penelope Keith is putting her weight behind the campaign, which is launched in London today and was set up by the three service benevolent funds - King George's Fund for Sailors, Army Benevolent Fund and Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund, assisted by the Ministry of Defence.

All Armed Forces personnel, their partners and dependants can get help from the trust.

Short-term help could include the provision of a grant for the relief of immediate financial distress and longer-term assistance could be given to meet general needs, special mobility equipment, house adaptations, resettlement and retraining and respite care.

Any money received by the trust will be distributed by the trustees to beneficiaries or other specialist charities through the three service benevolent charities.

Daily Echo editor Ian Murray said: "This is an excellent opportunity to give something back to those brave members of the Armed Forces and their families who have put their lives on the line in Iraq."

Anyone who wants to help is asked not to send material gifts as the forces' physical well-being is the responsibility of the Ministry of Defence. Just send a cheque equivalent to the value of the gift to the fund.

To find out more about the trust, and where to send donations to, visit www.UKForcesGulfFund.org.