SHOEboxes of gifts have been filled by Buckfast children and are ready to be shipped abroad to those less fortunate, in time for Christmas.

The pupils at St Mary’s Catholic Primary School have been working with Operation Christmas Child, a project organised by the charity Samaritan’s Purse. Gifts include toys, toiletries and school supplies.

A school spokesman said: ‘Pupils from the school council have been helping to prepare the boxes and the school hopes to send around 50 boxes to Operation Christmas Child.

‘The boxes will be transported to a drop-off point and then shipped abroad to children in places around the world who otherwise wouldn’t receive a present at Christmas time.’