THERE?were gifts galore at Gulworthy Primary School recently as pupils filled empty shoeboxes with toys and games as part of Operation Christmas Child.

The children decorated their shoeboxes with brightly coloured wrapping paper and filled the boxes with gifts ready to be sent to children who need them most in some of the toughest parts of the world, including Africa, Eastern Europe and central Asia.

Operation Christmas Child is an initiative of Samaritan's Purse and is the world's largest children's Christmas project, bringing joy into the lives of children since 1990.

Six youngsters from Mount House School have also delivered a consignment of Operation Christmas Child parcels to the Methodist Church in Tavistock.

They, and their fellow pupils, have been hard at work over the last few weeks putting together boxes of Christmas gifts.

Mount House is one of a number of schools in the area who deliver their presents to Tavistock Methodist Church, where they are gratefully received by local co-ordinator Jenny Page. Jenny collects all contributions, and makes sure they are sent off to arrive at their destinations in time for Christmas.

The Mount House youngsters packed their shoeboxes with presents they think a child of their own age might like to receive, from teddy bears and model cars to toiletries and felt-tipped pens. They also include a letter of good wishes to the child who will receive it.