Nick Harvey, MP for North Devon and Lib Dem Shadow Defence Secretary, says:

‘At Christmas time we all feel understandably charitable, but it is often difficult to choose a beneficiary as there are so many worthy causes.

‘Help for Heroes’ is no exception and if you are in a giving mood I would urge you to support it.  Set up just a few months ago it is seeking to rally the country behind the task of providing the Armed Forces Rehabilitation Centre at Headley Court with new state of the art facilities.

‘The organisers, who include TV presenter and car guru Jeremy Clarkson (please don’t let this put you off!) have set themselves the mammoth task of raising £5m to build a pool and gym.

‘I cannot stress enough the value of the work conducted by the staff at Headley Court to help rehabilitate those severely injured fighting for their country.  Setting aside the rights and wrongs of our involvement in Afghanistan and Iraq, no one can dispute that we owe a debt of recognition and care to the men and women involved.

‘This is both a national and local issue that affects us all, certainly here in North Devon we have taken the presence of the Royal Marines, many of them fresh from a tour Afghanistan, to our hearts.  If you feel that you want to help our Armed Forces this Christmas - then ‘Help for Heroes’ is as good a place as any to start.’