CHILDREN in 55 Herefordshire schools have been enthusiastically filling shoeboxes with gifts to ensure that children who would otherwise have nothing are able to share the spirit of Christmas.

Operation Christmas Child is now in its 12th year, and last year, worldwide, more than six million shoeboxes filled with toys, sweets and practical items were sent to children in over 100 countries.

Last Friday saw the first truck containing Herefordshire's shoeboxes setting off for Serbia.