STUDENTS at North Bromsgrove High School have been filling shoeboxes with gifts to send off as part of the annual Operation Christmas Child appeal.

The pupils filled 84 shoeboxes with items including toiletries, school supplies, items of clothing and small toys to be sent to children in need via the Operation Christmas Children appeal organised by the Samaritan’s Purse.

The students helped to load up the school minibus with the boxes, which were then delivered to Catshill Methodist Church to be sent out by the charity.

Adam Smith, assistant head teacher at North Bromsgrove High School, said: " I know students really enjoyed putting them together and we are very proud of them for organising such a successful campaign, creating more than double the amount of shoeboxes we were aiming for.

“We chose to be a part of this drive because it brightens up Christmas time for deprived children by giving them access to many things that to us are basic necessities.”

Each of the school’s four colleges were also challenged to create a shoebox for each tutor group, and the school donated the money for their shipping costs. Those boxes will now be tracked, so that each tutor group will get to find out exactly where they end up.