PEOPLE in north and west Wiltshire are being given the chance to brighten a child's life this Easter by donating stationery and eggs to a special appeal.

Operation Easter Child organisers are hoping to receive donations of small chocolate eggs, similar in size to Cadbury's creme eggs, so as many children as possible worldwide can celebrate Easter in the same delicious way as more fortunate youngsters in this country.

The palm-sized eggs, which should not be hollow so they do not get damaged, are eagerly appreciated by children who rarely get a taste of chocolate.

Samaritans Purse is also also collecting pens, paper, rubbers, geometry sets, solar-powered calculators, rulers, felt tip pens and crayons which will be boxed up and sent to countries in eastern Europe.

Samaritan's Purse representative Judith Whalley, from Westbury, said the appeal was not on the same scale as Operation Christmas Child but was as equally important.

"We have to let these kids know that we are thinking about them all the time," she said. "Education is very important and often it's the only thing that gets children out of poverty-stricken situations.

"It's amazing how many children do not have access to simple things we all take for granted, like paper. They quite often have to rub their work out at the end of the day and use the paper again."

Last year, around 31,000 gift-filled shoeboxes were sent out over the Christmas period.

Local people, schools and businesses are always keen to support the successful festive appeal, and Mrs Whalley is hoping for a good response to Operation Easter Child. She said: "Local businesses are usually keen to help and our volunteers just don't want to stop.

"We will be packing the stationery and eggs into separate boxes for primary and secondary schools, which will be sent out with our lorry drivers."

People have until April 18 to take their donations, which should be bagged, into the Wiltshire Times offices in Duke Street, Trowbridge, which is open 9am-5pm Monday-Friday, or to the charity's warehouse in Strattons Walk, Melksham, which is open between 2-4pm on Wednesdays.

They will start shipping gifts well before Easter, but promise all donations will reach needy children.

Samaritan's Purse is a Christian organisation providing aid to people around the world.

Since 1970 it has helped meet the needs of people who are victims of war, poverty, natural disasters, disease, and famine.