THE wife of a Colchester paratrooper has launched a petition calling for all soldiers serving at the Olympic Games to be given a £500 bonus. Zoe Nicholson, 21, wants thousands of people to support her campaign for a bonus after her husband was called upon to guard a London 2012 site in Surrey.

The Colchester Garrison resident, whose husband serves with the Parachute Regiment, Third Battalion, said a bonus was only right. Mrs Nicholson said: “We have 1,000 signatures at the moment. “It’s nowhere near enough, and I am trying my hardest to get more.

“Some soldiers are in horrible accomodation and won’t get to see their families. “We have to pay for my husband to come back and spend time with us during the Olympics. We are fighting for them to get money.”

Mrs Nicholson’s husband was one of 4,700 soldiers, including hundreds from Colchester-based 3 Para and 7 Parachute Regiment Royal Horse Artillery, called up earlier this month to serve at London 2012.

They are filling the gap left by security firm G4S, which has admitted it could not provide the security for the Games it had promised. Mrs Nicholson said her husband was called on at the last minute to provide cover in Egham, where rowing events are being held.

She said: “He works three days, three nights and then has three days off.

“The soldiers are turning up for their shifts and it’s a case of being told ‘G4S are here, we don’t need you’.

“They have to go back every hour and find out if they’re needed. “They’re waiting around all day.

“The place my husband is working at is good, with good food, but when he is on his down time he says it’s rubbish. There’s nothing for them whatsoever.” Colchester Garrison could not say how many of its soldiers had been called up.

An MoD spokesman said: "Service personnel will not get anything over and above the normal remuneration arrangements in place. “Members of the Armed Forces are not paid overtime, as their terms and conditions of employment specify they are on duty 24 hours a day. “However, most personnel will be entitled to Longer Separation Allowance, which is designed to compensate them for extended periods of duty away from their normal residential address.” To sign the petition go to http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/36114