HUNDREDS of children across Wyre Forest will be waking up on Christmas morning to an unexpected treat, thanks the generous readers of the Shuttle.

The newspaper has once again teamed up with Home-Start Wyre Forest for the annual Shuttle Christmas Gift Appeal and collected 730 presents to be given to needy children across the district - more than double than what was collected last year.

The Swan Centre, Weavers Wharf and Kidderminster Iceland have been collecting donations, as well as the Courtyard Cafe, in Lombard Street, Stourport, and Stourport's TSB branch, in High Street.

The presents for children aged 0-18 years-old were then collected by Home-Start volunteers, who have had them wrapped and delivered to local families, before Christmas Day, who are experiencing additional difficulties.

As well as generous donations from readers and groups, Tesco Filling Station, in Stourport, raised more than £500 on a cake and coffee day for their customers, and used the money raised to buy 150 gifts for the appeal.

Belinda Darby, Home-Start manager, said: "Thank you so much to all those who have donated to the Shuttle's Christmas Gift Appeal.

"This is a record year for donations.

"Not only have we had more gifts donated than ever before, but the gifts have been of greater value and will make our families' Christmas really special.

"At a time of year when money is tight for most of us, we have been overwhelmed at the generosity of the Wyre Forest community and their desire to make this Christmas a little happier for local children.

"Our staff and volunteers will ensure these gifts are with our families before Christmas, which will hopefully ease a little of the pressure for the parents we are supporting.

"Although Christmas can be a wonderful time for celebration, we know for families experiencing difficulties those stresses can be magnified at this time of year and other forms of support may be less available."

The Shuttle Christmas Gift Appeal has been running since 1995, when it was called the Christmas Tree Appeal, and has been lighting up the faces of children in need in Wyre Forest ever since.

Home-Start have been involved with the appeal for more than a decade and they enable presents to be delivered to every child in receipt of their support across the district at Christmas time.

For more information about Home-Start, visit homestartwyreforest.org.uk or call 01562 825896.