CHRISTMAS gifts, collected from shoppers and retail staff, have been donated to children's community projects.

More than 100 presents have been gifted to the Giving Tree initiative organised by the Brunel Shopping Centre.

People chose a tag attached to a Christmas tree which would have the age and gender of a child.

They then went away and bought a present suitable for that child and returned it to the customer relation's desk.

The presents will be given to the Welcome Centre in Park North, West Swindon Family & Community Project, North Swindon Family Centre, Walcot Fam-ily Centre, Home Start Swindon, Wiltshire House Hostel for Girls and Stepping Forward.

The groups will be given the gifts on Monday.

Pip Laycock, marketing manager at the Brunel Centre, said: "We have been delighted by the level of support that this community event has generated and we would like to thank everyone who has bought a gift for the Giving Tree.

"All the gifts are going to very worthy homes," and added that the centre hopes to repeat the initiative next year.