THE mum of a soldier whose army boots were stolen from his grave has been overwhelmed by the offers of help following the theft.

Last month, the Hereford Times reported how the boots of Kurt Smith were stolen from his grave at Hereford Cemetery.

The 25-year-old served with the Royal Artillery and was wearing the boots when he died in May at his barracks on Thorney Island, near Portsmouth.

His mum, Trena Blake, placed his army boots on his grave with plants inside and appealed for their return when she realised they had been stolen.

Dan Johnson read the article and decided to do something about it. He said: "As an ex-combat medic I was disgusted that someone could do something like that.

"I decided I was going to walk from Hay Bluff to Llanthony Abbey." He was joined by his partner, Rachael Lewis.

He raised around £180 through sponsorship to buy an ornamental boot to go on Mr Smith's grave.

Wyevale Garden Centre in Hereford then donated the ornamental boot and planted it with red and blue flowers and painted the boot black. These colours reflect the colours of the Royal Artillery.

Mr Johnson presented the boot to Mrs Blake and gave her the sponsorship money.

Mrs Blake said: "I would like to put it for a bench in memory of Kurt. I am not sure where yet but ideally it would be nice to put it at the cemetery in memory of him."

Mr Johnson thanked his friend, Scott Morris, for his help and also B&Q, The Long Bar and The Barber Shop in West Street.

Mrs Blake added: "It has been overwhelming the amount of people who put money and time and effort into it.

"I have had ex-soldiers offering me their boots. Last week I was away and Jason Jones and Louise Jones came up to Kurt's grave and Jason put cement in his own boots and put them on the grave."