A GROUP of volunteers in Okehampton have worked together to bring some festive cheer to men, women and children living in poverty in Bulgaria.

Volunteers for the Trussell Trust's Christmas Box appeal last Tuesday spent their day in All Saints Church Hall on Market Street wrapping empty shoe-boxes with festive wrapping paper and filling them with a collection of toys and items donated by local organisations, businesses and residents.

In total they managed to wrap and fill 138 boxes on the day.

Organisations including Okehampton Puzzle Tree, the Inspiration Church, Okehampton Baptist Church, All Saints Parish Church and Okehampton Foodbank donated boxes and items, and OK Leisure, Donald's Menswear, and Okehampton Conservative Club helped to store boxes and presents into the lead-up to the packing event.

Chrissie Taylor, of the Trussell Trust's appeal, said: 'It is really thrilling to have seen so many people pull together to support the box appeal. Having this support from all these organisations and people from around the town is wonderful to see.'

The boxes were blessed at a special service at All Saints on Sunday, and will now be sent to a depot in Salisbury before being shipped to Bulgaria to be given to those living in poverty.