Parcel delivery firm DHL has been recognised with an award after sending packages to soldiers serving in Afghanistan.

Staff at the DHL centre in Droitwich have been honoured with the Royal British Legion's Friends of the Forces corporate award for their work in helping members of 2nd Battalion the Mercian Regiment, who were based at Camp Bastion at the time, the Worcester News reports.

The parcel deliveries made through fundraisers and workplace competitions included things like mp4 players, iPods, magazines, foods and biscuits.

Terry Orpe, DHL community liaison officer, said the firm wanted to show its commitment to British soldiers in the field.

"There's a lot of red tape in the Army so it took time to make the right contacts but eventually we spoke to the padre and he thought it was a great idea," he told the newspaper.

He added: "If all firms could do what we did it would do a lot of good."

It follows reports in the Northwich Guardian earlier this month that 30 DHL staff have cycled through Northwich and the surrounding area in a bid to raise money for children's charity UNICEF.