SPIRITUAL support was given by a capacity congregation at Exeter Cathedral to the country's serving troops.

The service, yesterday afternoon, was organised by charity Support Our Soldiers (SOS) and attended by civic leaders and the families of troops.

The aim of the event was for people to give thanks and show their support for the armed forces, in particular those currently serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Music was provided by the Exmouth Town Concert Band and the cathedral organist.

Cadets from Exeter and Exmouth were also in attendance, alongside Vice Lord Lieutenant of Devon, Sir John Cave, representatives of the armed forces and other civil dignitaries including the lord mayors and lady mayoresses of Exeter and Plymouth.

The Echo was invited to attend the service and made a video at the event so soldiers serving abroad can see the support being shown for them on our website www.thisisexeter.co.uk.

Peter Bond, SOS area coordinator, based in Lympstone, said: "We wanted to support and commemorate the men and women of our armed forces serving in present campaigns including Iraq and Afghanistan.

"We also paid our respects to all those who have served in past campaigns, including both world wars.

"We were also keen to show our support and to boost the morale of the service personnel based in Devon and Cornwall who are due to redeploy to Afghanistan this autumn."

Becki Fleming, area coordinator for Plymouth, said: "The service allowed the people of Devon to show their support for the people serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. We had some representatives from the Royal Naval College in Dartmouth here with us and I think other service personnel and their families may have come incognito too.

"It is important to show the soldiers that the county they are based in is behind them while they are away and back on home shores."

Ms Fleming said the charity was in its sixth year and the main purpose was to send care packages out to troops throughout the year, with a main drive at Christmas.

She said: "There are some soldiers who don't get any mail so it is the main purpose of the charity to give everyone something."

Canon Carl Turner, precentor of the cathedral, said: "It is a few months ago that Peter Bond and his friends from Support Our Soldiers asked if they could have a particular service to pray for those in active service, particularly those in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the Dean was pleased to say yes.

"It is so good to see so many representatives from around the community, especially mayors, councillors and chairman and the Vice Lord Lieutenant of Devon."

He added: "This is not just a service in order to pray for the troops as there are practical things that can be done."

As well as letting servicemen and women know they were being thought of people attending the service were encouraged to send Christmas cards to them from a selection which was displayed at the back of the Cathedral.

For more information on the Support Our Soldiers campaign, visit www.supportoursoldiers. co.uk.