TRAFFIC came to a halt when 150 friends, family and supporters of a teenage soldier serving in Afghanistan marched through the streets to raise money for wounded servicemen.

Countless motorists stopped to wind down their windows and make a donation as the group paraded from Debden Park High School to Woodford Rugby Club on Saturday holding the colours of 19 year-old Private Lewis Keogh's Royal Anglian Regiment - with whom he is currently on active duty in Helmand Province.

Private Keogh's girlfriend Katie Treagust came up with the idea for the 4.5 mile walk in aid of the Help for Heroes charity, when the teenager, of Rookwood Close, Loughton, was first deployed to the war-torn country.

His mum, Tracy, 47, helped her organise the event with the support of Angela and Katie Metcalfe, of Woodford Rugby Club - where Private Keogh has been a member since he was 12-years-old.

Tracy, 47, said: "It was wonderful how many people came along to support the walk, and to see so many people stopping to give donations.

"Katie didn't know what to do with herself when Lewis went to Afghanistan, so she decided to do something positive to support him, and other British troops.

"Help for Heroes does such amazing work to support our injured servicemen so she decided to raise money for them."

The mum-of-three said that she has had to learn to cope with the anxiety caused by Lewis's deployment.

She said: "He has always wanted to be a soldier. Since he could talk.

"It's hard, but I've had time to get used to it.

"One of the men in his regiment was killed recently, and he has had to help a soldier who was injured himself.

"He's grown up so much since he joined the army. I'm really proud of him."

Angela Metcalfe, who managed Private Keogh's rugby team, said she was taken aback by the scale of support shown to the marchers - who included several injured soldiers.

She said: "It really brought a tear to your eye.

"One lady asked us to stop while she went to get a big sweet jar full of coins to give to us.

"It shows how strongly people feel about our troops."

Woodford Green MP Iain Duncan Smith, a former Scots Guard, was delighted to support the Walk.

He said: "I am full of admiration for everyone that walked. Help for Heroes is such a deserving charity and it is great to see such terrific community spirit in these difficult times.

"Everyone involved should be congratulated on raising such a magnificent sum - it's a reminder to all of us of how we can support our armed forces."

See the Guardian website tomorrow to find out how much money was raised.

To make a donation visit: justgiving.com/H4HWoodfordRFCWalk