A Facebook campaign started by a Shropshire bus driver to get a two-minute silence on Christmas Day for fallen troops and the serving forces now has more than 350,000 members.

Steve Paskin, from Telford, has set an ambitious target of getting one million people to sign up to it before the end of the year.

The father-of-three said the more people that joined the group, the more chance it had of becoming reality.

Hundreds of thousands of people from all over the world have already backed the call for a two-minute silence at noon on December 25 since the group was set up nearly a year ago.

Mr Paskin, a bus driver for Arriva in Telford, said so many service personnel had been lost in combat and many others were away from home at Christmas.

He said the sacrifice they made should be recognised by the rest of the country by paying tribute to them on Christmas Day.

The bus driver was speaking after claims Muslim extremists burned a model of a poppy in London last week to mar Armistice Day celebrations.

He said: “I think that because of recent behaviour which marred the eleveth hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, we as a group should show these extremists that we aim to honour our heroes how we see fit.

“Not only will we be celebrating the birth of Christianity, but we will also honour those who gave their lives in the name of our freedom.

“We are asking everyone to join us – lets get our number up to one million for Christmas and show the world just what were made of.”

The 44-year-old, who lives in Woodside with wife Wendy and his three sons, said he hoped a massive show of support would force the Government to act.

“I know you have Remembrance Day but it’s not enough,” he said.

“Christmas Day is so important for families and we think a two-minute silence would give a little comfort to families who have actually lost someone close to them.

“It’s not just for people who have died either – I know a lot of soldiers who will be out in Iraq and Afghanistan over Christmas and don’t want to be there. They want to be home with their families.”

By Wayne Beese