AN ELDERLY woman has issued a rallying cry to Widnesians who, she claims, should be flying the flag for British forces in Afghanistan.

Josie Bowen, who will soon celebrate her 70th birthday, said she would be proud to see hundreds of Union Jacks fluttering outside homes the length and breadth of the borough as a mark of appreciation to the troops who could find themselves fighting in front line for freedom and democracy.

And she said demoralised people across Britain should 'chin up' in the face of these troubled times, as she reminisced about the ways morale was boosted during the Second World War.

She said: 'I remember clearly that everybody was cheerful and used to joke about what was happening even though we were being bombed all the time. We knew what the war was all about.

'Nowadays people seem to think this war has nothing to do with them. They think that it is unimportant because it is so far away. But they are too complacent.

'People should be more vocal in their support for this action ­- the flags would be a symbol showing support for the lads that we have out there.'

Josie said lessons could be learned from the last war when the slogan 'careless talk costs lives' was at the forefront of everyone's minds.

She voiced concern at the number of media reports which she feels may be giving away crucial snippets of information which could prove useful to terrorists at home and abroad.

She said: 'During the Second World War, everywhere you went there were posters with the words 'Careless Talk Costs Lives' ­ we were told that if anyone asked directions in the street, we had to tell them we had no idea where the place was, as they may be a spy.

'Consequently, everyone who asked us kids was a spy in our eyes, so we would follow them for miles to check where they were going so we could report them to the authorities. It was a great game!

'It was a very serious business though, as we had an RAF camp on our doorstep. We didn't know if there were spies around, but we were still vigilant.

'Imagine my horror then, in these days when we know for certain that there are terrorists living among us, when I read in one newspaper a full description of how easy it was to enter an unguarded waterworks and showing the simplest way to poison our water.

'This would have been regarded almost as treason in the last war.'

Josie, of Trinity Place, said: 'I think it would be lovely if the people of Widnes would show their patriotism by hanging out the Union Jack.'