WESTMORLAND Gazette readers are once again being asked to help make a child's Christmas special by filling a shoebox with gifts.

Last year, readers pulled out all the stops and filled almost 1,100 shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child.

The boxes were distributed to children living in poverty or hardship across Eastern Europe.

This year we are again offering the Gazette offices as a collection point.

All you need to do is fill a shoebox with gifts, and include a £2 donation to cover transport, and the Gazette and Operation Christmas Child will do the rest.

We need to have all the shoeboxes by November 1, so that they can be distributed in time for Christmas.

If you decide you would like to fill a shoebox for a boy or girl, collect a leaflet from the Gazette office which contains instructions on what to do, or carefully follow the advice below.

Once you have filled your shoebox, and included the donation, bring it into the Gazette office at 22 Stricklandgate, Kendal, LA9 4NE, or to these other collection points: Ottakar's bookshop in Kendal; Bud + Jet tyre centre, Unit 3, Victoria Forge, Windermere (next to Booth's); The Photo Shop, North Road, Ambleside or Appleby Co-op.

WHAT TO SEND

Your gifts don't have to be new or expensive, but they should be clean and of good quality.

Please avoid anything that relates to war or horror, because of the experiences which some of the children have been through.

Suggested gifts are:

Small toys: cars, planes, dolls, model animals.

Small games: puzzles, balls, skipping ropes.

Cuddly toy: teddies, soft animals.

Stationery: pencils, crayons, pens, ruler, eraser, exercise paper.

Books: colouring books, cartoon books, comics, picture books.

Confectionery: wrapped sweets, chocolates.

Toiletries: a flannel, sponge, talc, soap, toothbrush and toothpaste, a toilet/make-up bag.

Clothing: a scarf, hat, baseball cap, gloves.

Letter: If you wish, you can add a letter, photograph of yourself or a Christmas card.

WHAT TO LEAVE OUT

No toy guns, knives, soldiers or war-related items.

No marbles, or toys which depend on batteries.

No aerosols, not even deodorants.

No liquid containers, not even bubble bath or shampoo.

No food except sweets.

No medicines.

No glass containers, mirrors or fragile objects.

No clothes (except scarf, hat etc.)

HOW TO PACK YOUR SHOEBOX

l Find a medium sized shoe box, and cover it in Christmas paper, wrapping the lid separately.

l Decide if the box is for a boy or a girl, and what age it is suitable for.

Label the box BOY or GIRL, and indicate if it is for a 2-4 year old, 5-9 year old or 10-14 year old.

m Put all the gifts in the box, without wrapping them individually, and add £2 in an envelope on top of the gifts.

This will help pay for the cost of sending the box.

(Cheques are preferred for security reasons, made payable to Samaritan's Purse).

m Use an elastic band to secure the lid and do not seal the box.