Congregations from two churches in Calne packed gifts for disadvantaged children into 135 shoeboxes as part of Operation Christmas Child last Saturday.

The scheme is run by the Samaritan’s Purse charity, and was set up to make sure children across Africa and Eastern Europe receive a present on Christmas Day.

The boxes, packed by members of the Calne Evangelical Church and Calne Free Church, which has been involved by the project for years, will go to children in Belarus. The packing was organised by Claire Taylor and Emma Trafford.

Maggie Gibbs, of Calne Evangelical Church, said: “It might have been the most we’ve ever done. We usually do around 100 but 135 was really good going.”