YORK-based expatshopping-.com today resumed deliveries of Yorkshire Tea and Branston Pickle to war-torn Kabul and Islamabad in neighbouring Pakistan.

The dotcom, which from its sorting base in Osbaldwick, sells British food to homesick expatriates all over the world, had to halt its supplies to diplomatic staff in Afghanistan as the British Embassy closed with the outbreak of war.

And ever since the September 11 atrocities in the U.S. no orders have arrived from Islamabad, from where all non-essential embassy staff were sent home.

Simon Aldrich, sales and marketing director of expatshopping.com, said: "Only senior diplomats remained in Islamabad, but now embassy staff are trickling back and the first orders have come in for Christmas.

"Today we have been packing five huge containers filled to bursting with Christmas produce, from mince pies, selection boxes and Christmas puddings to Branston Pickle, Walkers Crisps and Yorkshire Tea.

"We are also packing a special complimentary Christmas hamper bound for the embassy office in Kabul, which once again is slowly filling up with staff. It's our contribution to the war effort."

The dotcom which won two categories in last year's Evening Press Business of the Year competition, is providing a rising number of the 13.5 million British expats around the world with their favourite foods from home.

It has more than 1,500 British groceries available and on-line catalogues from high street companies like Next, Argos, Boots and Marks & Spencer.

Updated: 12:15 Wednesday, November 28, 2001