FAMILIES and groups across the county are being called upon to show their generosity at Christmas by filling a shoebox with small presents for children in eastern Europe.

Operation Christmas Child was officially launched in the area at a coffee morning at the Devizes home of organiser Ursula McKinnon on Saturday.

The organisation is hoping to exceed the 1,200 shoeboxes which local people filled last year with gifts of small toys, stationery, books and toiletries.

Mrs McKinnon said: "The coffee morning was a way of thanking all the people who have spent hours knitting hats and gloves for the charity. We are donated wool and we give it to our band of knitters.

"These people love to knit but noone welcomes gifts of handmade scarves, hats and gloves anymore, so this is an outlet for their talent."

One woman has knitted 100 items and another has managed 70. They will be among a group from throughout the county invited to a special event at the Operation Christmas Child warehouse in Melksham on October 28 when a mountain of 20,000 items will be unveiled.

The Gazette is once again helping in the collection of the shoeboxes.

They can be dropped into our office at 14 Market Place, Devizes, during office hours.

Mrs McKinnon and her band of helpers will be at St John's Parish Room on November 10, 11, 17 and 18 from 10am to 4pm to receive shoeboxes.

They will go to destinations in the Ukraine, Romania, Bulgaria and other eastern European countries.

Do not include guns or any other warlike toys, marbles, toys which need batteries, aerosols, liquid containers, food (except sweets), medicines, glass objects or containers.