A SWINDON school taking part in a charity Christmas appeal for the first time has collected 60 boxes of gifts for deprived children in less than three weeks.

Children at Wroughton Primary School have been busy collecting toys and gifts for poor families across the world.

The boxes have been collected as part of Operation Christmas Child, which sends the gift packs directly to impoverished children.

Teacher Annette Bidgood said the children appreciated the import- ance of the campaign.

She said: "I asked the children whether they thought everyone would be having a nice Christmas this year and they all replied yes.

"I said not everyone is lucky enough to have what they have at this time of year. They wrote special messages to their special friends and are interested in what happens to the boxes.

"Children are very egocentric but they come to school to learn there is a wider community around them.''