SCHOOLS and individuals have being doing their bit to support this year's Operation Christmas Child Appeal.

Youngsters at Dauntsey Academy Primary School, West Lavington, near Devizes filled a total of 49 boxes to help provide fun and comfort for children who might otherwise have nothing.

Headteacher Philippa Winbolt said: "Dauntsey Academy Primary School would like to say a really big thank you to everyone who gave shoeboxes, wrapping paper and gifts.

"Thanks to the generosity of everyone at Dauntsey Academy Primary School the children filled an amazing 49 boxes and the pop up sweet shop raised enough money to cover the transport cost of £3 per box. Our boxes have been delivered to the charity's warehouse in Warminster and are already on their way to Liberia in West Africa.

“The whole school was involved and each class had a group of items to contribute – or whatever they could." To follow the progress of the school's boxed use tracking reference 2160000597622.

At St Margaret's Preparatory School, Calne, children also filled boxes with goodies for babies and children overseas while at St Andrew's Church, Devizes hundreds of boxes were packed by volunteers.

Janice Charlton from the church said: "We would like to say thank you to all those who helped us to fill over 330 shoe boxes on the 5th November at St. Andrew's Church in Devizes. We also received a huge quantity of other donations including hygiene items, soft toys, games, colouring books, crayons, knitted hats, scarves, mittens which all went to the warehouse and will be used to fill many more boxes."

The Devizes group is still looking for a new local co-ordinator ready for next year.