It began in 1914 with a gift for everyone in King�s uniform who was posted abroad, and culminated last year in an outpouring of public support which overwhelmed the armed forces� ability to cope.

It began in 1914 with a gift for everyone in King's uniform who was posted abroad, and culminated last year in an outpouring of public support which overwhelmed the armed forces' ability to cope.

Now the Ministry of Defence is seeking to re-invigorate the tradition of the "square stocking", sent to members of the British military at Christmas, by appealing to the public to donate via a charity set up for the purpose.

It comes a year after the military postal service was overrun by an unprecedented number of anonymous Christmas packages sent to frontline troops in Afghanistan and Iraq, leading to the MoD issuing the controversial plea to stop public donations.

Amid the chaos caused by the bulk deliveries, letters and packages sent by families and friends ended up being significantly delayed, meaning they did not arrive in time for Christmas, it was claimed.

At a press conference in Glasgow yesterday, the MoD appealed for the public to donate via uk4u, a charity set up in 2005 to send boxes to military personnel. Already, nearly 25,000 boxes, containing a mixture of snacks, novelty items, toiletries and other "useful products" have been sent to forces in Iraq, Afghanistan, the Falkland Islands, Cyprus and the Balkans.

The MoD said that not all the gifts sent last year were "appropriate" for those stationed in a war zone and had caused significant logistical problems.

In the two months before Christmas last year, 21,000 sacks of mail weighing more than 170 tonnes were sent to Afghanistan alone, the majority of which were shoe boxes sent to unnamed personnel.

Sara Reed, spokeswoman for the Ministry of Defence in Scotland, said: "In Afghanistan, parcels and letters usually need to be dispatched by helicopter. It's not just that doing that is expensive, it also presents a risk for the helicopter crews who have to provide vital supplies to those on the frontline.

"The number of items received meant that some people weren't getting cards that were sent by their loved ones."

Ms Reed, who was in Helmand province in Afghanistan last Christmas, said some of the presents that were sent in by the public were not appropriate: chocolate melted in the extreme heat of the desert while drinks were often included, despite the fact that alcohol is prohibited on military bases.

"The boxes sent by uk4u have gifts that we know will be useful for our troops," she said.

The first Christmas box, produced in 1914, was the idea of King George V's daughter, Princess Mary, and designed to be a "gift from the nation", containing cigarettes, tobacco and pencils.

Stuart McPherson, 31, a marine with 45 Commando Royal Marines, has been away for three Christmases over his 10-year career, most recently in Afghanistan for the 2006 festivities.

He said: "The boxes are a good morale booster, especially for those who don't have family."

Lance Corporal Adam Hughes, 29, who was away from his two children last year, added: "It's a small thing, but it shows people are thinking about you."

Details are at www.uk4u.org