Soldiers are gearing up for their Christmas parties up-and-down the country after UK farmers delivered their home produced turkeys to some of the Ministry of Defence’s units and hospitals over the last week.

Turkeys have been taken to Catterick Garrison in Yorkshire, Headley Court in Surrey, Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham and the Royal Star and Garter in Richmond, and Colchester. The final delivery is expected to take place on December 20 at the Royal Hospital in Chelsea where the Chelsea Pensioners will enjoy their turkey dinner on Christmas Day.

Farmers taking part in the NFU’s Turkeys for Troops campaign come from Cheshire, Oxon, Berkshire, Cornwall, Kent, Worcestershire, Pembrokeshire, Tyne and Wear and Yorkshire. Around 1,200 dinners for sick and injured troops, as well as veterans, will be served as a result.

NFU poultry adviser Chris Dickinson said: “Our farmers have been working closely with the MOD to ensure swift delivery of those turkeys and we are really pleased that the campaign has been a success. We sincerely hope they will enjoy their Christmas dinners.”

The NFU’s UK Turkeys website has teamed up with Connect Packaging to launch the campaign, with the help of the Ministry of Defence.