MORE than a month after her bomb disposal expert son died in Iraq a Hampshire mum has made a heartfelt appeal to help the country's children rebuild their lives.

Staff Sgt Chris Muir, 32, was killed during an operation to dismantle munitions at the end of March.

His grieving mum Joy Symmonds is now hoping Daily Echo readers will back a charity's efforts in supporting youngsters recovering from decades of oppression.

Dozens of schools and orphanages were also looted and damaged during the conflict and the War Child organisation has launched a fundraising drive.

Mrs Symmonds, 56, said: "We all have our little grumbles here but we will never really know the depravities that Iraq has known.

"Obviously things are still upset there, and it hasn't stabilised as the war has only just finished, but there is a lot of work and rebuilding that needs to be done, not just in the physical sense but the emotional sense as well.

"I think we should try to help these people. It would be great if people could give just £1 because it all adds up, and even better if they could afford more."

Mr Muir, a former pupil at Halterworth and Mountbatten schools in Romsey and Eastleigh's Barton Peveril College, left a widow Gillian and four-year-old son Ben.

Mrs Symmonds, from Whitenap, Romsey, who has four other children, the family had drawn strength from impression her son had made in his tragically short life.

"He was a great guy, from day one to the last day of his life. He was an incredible person and left a tremendous mark on everyone who knew him."

Mr Muir qualified as an ammunition technician and had recently been appointed as an instructor at the Army School of Ammunition in Warwickshire.

War Child takes aid to young war victims around the world.

Mrs Symmonds said: "I contacted them recently and can confirm that we can specify any donations could be sent specifically for the victims of Iraq."

Cheques, made payable to War Child, can be sent c/o Dave Newble, Daily Echo, Test Lane, Redbridge, Southampton SO16 9JX.