HUNDREDS of needy children in eastern Europe will be receiving boxfuls of Christmas cheer thanks to the generosity of villagers in Sherston.

John Smith, depot manager for the south west region of Operation Christmas Child, said eight villagers had knitted more than 300 items of clothing for the children in the last six months.

Mr Smith said: "There is tremendous enthusiasm for the charity in the village. Sherston has resounded with the clicking of knitting needles.

"Bobble hats, scarves and gloves have all come off the assembly line.

"One lady even got her mother who lives in the Isle of Man to start knitting when she came to Sherston for a holiday."

Mr Smith said Operation Christmas Child's south west region aims to send 30,000 shoeboxes filled with toys, sweets and woollen items to needy children and orphans in Romania, and Belarus.

Sherston has been the charity's regional headquarters for about ten years.

In the next few weeks, boxes from Bristol, Cornwall, Devon and Somerset will be sent to the village for checking and sorting.

They will then be packed into larger boxes before being taken to the army base at Hullavington, and then despatched to eastern Europe.

Anyone who can spare a few hours to help with the sorting, checking and packing is asked to contact Mr Smith on (01666) 840585.