PUPILS at Wroughton Infant School have put the finishing touches to their Christmas presents for impoverished children.

They have collected more than 80 shoeboxes full of gifts for Operation Christmas Child.

Each year the charity collects thousands of shoeboxes from British children each one packed full of toys, sweets and other goodies.

Annett Bidgood, a teacher at the school, is proud of her pupils:

"They have collected about 80 boxes which is excellent. They have thought about it a lot and have put in useful things, as well as toys, such as toothpaste and toothbrushes.

"Some of them have written a little note to go in there too, signing it from 'a friend'. We are just really proud of them all."

Since 1990 the charity has delivered nearly 2.5 million shoeboxes to children living in poverty in countries such as Bosnia, Romania, Russia and Armenia.

Children contribute £2 each to help pay the costs of getting the box to the child.

In 1999 over three million shoeboxes were collected from around the world. Operation Christmas Child in Wiltshire is based in Melksham.