WESTMORLAND Gazette readers are responding to our appeal to help brighten up a child's Christmas.

Shoeboxes filled with goodies have started to arrive at our Kendal offices ready to be shipped to Eastern Europe as part of the Operation Christmas Child appeal.

The shoeboxes, which have been filled with gifts, will be distributed among needy children and, for some, it will be the only Christmas present they receive.

Readers who would like to take part and fill a shoebox can collect an explanatory leaflet from the Gazette offices at 22 Stricklandgate, or follow the instructions which can be found on our website at www.thisisthelakedistrict.co.uk from today.

The shoeboxes can be left at our offices, and the Gazette and Operation Christmas Child will do the rest.

More than 20 schools from the Kendal and South Lakeland area have already signed up to Operation Christmas Child, and pupils are going to prepare shoeboxes.

Charity representatives Doreen and David Metcalf have been visiting many of the schools to give assemblies and explain to the pupils how they can help.

"If the children are doing it, it's from a child to a child," said Mrs Metcalf.

"That's the big thing about it, a child in England caring for a child in Eastern Europe."

As well as the schools which have signed up, there are probably others whose pupils will also be filling shoeboxes ready for Christmas.

l Those who would like to find out more about Operation Christmas Child can attend a concert on Sunday, October 8, when Welsh gospel artist Nia will be singing, and talking about the shoebox appeal.

She will also show video footage of children in Armenia receiving the boxes.

The presentation will be at the Free Methodist Church in Queen Street, Lancaster, at 8pm, and admission is free.