After weeks of hard work across Wiltshire the Operation Christmas Child appeal is drawing to a close, but not before one last flurry of activity.

Donations for the annual shoebox appeal stopped on Monday, but that hasn’t stopped schools and churches working to supply the final gift boxes for needy children in eastern Europe and Africa.

Westbury United Reform Church started collecting items for their boxes in January.

Church member Priscilla Gray said: “Each month members are asked to bring certain items for the boxes and thanks to their generosity we manage to fill 40 boxes.

“Having heard one year about a child who used the wrapping paper from her box to put on her wall as they had no wallpaper, the first item in each box is a piece of Christmas wrapping paper.”

Children at Shaw Primary school have also been working hard on their boxes.

School admin officer Clare Lemay-Lamb said: “They collected about 40 from us on Friday, but a few of our parents missed the deadline, so were racing down to the depot after school with their boxes.

“We didn’t take part last year, but we have every other year recently, so it was really nice to help out again.

“The kids just love doing them, and it makes them realise how lucky they are.”

The Zion Baptist Church also produced 25 boxes for the appeal, and Brenda Skull, leader of the ladies coffee mornings, said: “We’ve taken part for several years now.

“We always include exercise books and pencils, as in some places they can’t go to school unless they have their own equipment. ”

A lorry loaded with 9,608 boxes left for Belarus on Monday, while a second loaded with over 10,000 set off for Romania last night.

Area co-ordinator Hilary McFall said: “We’ve got another lorry we’re starting to pack for next week which might just be half full, but they are still coming in.

“I would like to thank everybody for doing it, and for all their hard work. We’re extremely grateful.

“Last year we sent off 25,000 in total, so we’re well on target to top that now.”