HALSTEAD'S rotary club have joined forces with a school to spread Christmas cheer to those less fortunate.

The Halstead Rotary Club are working with St Margaret's Preparatory School, Gosfield, to fill shoeboxes to be distributed to families in Eastern Europe.

The school has support the scheme for many years and this year the partnership has managed to fill 100 shoeboxes with gifts including toys, toiletries, educational items and even household goods.

They shoeboxes will be delivered to countries like Moldova, Ukraine and the Czech Republic, where huge amounts of children live in poverty.

For many it will be the first Christmas present that they have every received.

The boxes will be distributed to orphanages, hospitals, disabled children and families in need.

Rotary Vice President Keith Brownlie visited the school to collect the boxes where he was assisted by the head boys and girls and their deputies.

Mr Brownlie said: "Shoe Boxes are a great way of helping disadvantaged families who lack the bare essentials and is a great way of showing that the School was thinking of others as we begin the countdown to the festive season."

Callum Douglas, headteacher at St Margaret's Preparatory, said: "The children love taking part in the Rotary Christmas shoe box appeal, and thoroughly enjoy filling the boxes.

"It gives them a sense that they are helping a real person and this allows them to feel part of the process."

For more information about the shoebox drive visit: www.rotaryshoebox.org.