Claypole Church of England Primary School pupils pack shoeboxes

Children from a primary school have filled dozens of shoeboxes with Christmas gifts for youngsters less fortunate than themselves.

Pupils at Claypole Church of England Primary School packed the boxes with gifts, including toys, sweets, crayons and toiletries, to be sent to children in Eastern Europe through the Blythswood charity,

The charity sent 115,000 boxes last year. The Claypole boxes are being sent from Claypole via Newark Evangelical Church.

This is the first year that Claypole school has taken part. All 152 children were involved, with some filling more than one box.

Charlie Morris, 8, who filled three shoeboxes with toys, sweets, a woolly hat, gloves and a scarf, said he was happy they were going to help other children.

Jack Walker, 7, whose shoebox contained sweets, crayons, books, toothbrush and toothpaste said his grandmother had helped and told him the children who received the boxes might not have had any Christmas presents before so they would be excited.

Before packing the boxes, the children were shown a video explaining what they were for.