Thousands of shoeboxes began their journey to Zambia and Albania on Saturday, stuffed with presents for children in Operation Christmas Child.

The appeal, backed by the Wiltshire Times, has seen mountains of boxes arrive at the depot in Westbury to be opened by children this Christmas. Readers have also been coming in in droves to drop boxes off at the Wiltshire Times office.

Volunteers have spent hours checking more than 20,000 boxes before they are sent out.

Area co-ordinator Steve Lloyd said: “It has gone really well, we sent 18,000 boxes on Saturday and there are a couple of thousand to go next week.

“I have really enjoyed it, it has been an intense six weeks and I am going to carry on doing it for the foreseeable future. It means so much to children who wouldn’t normally get anything.”

Beauty therapy students from Trowbridge Campus visited the depot twice to lend a hand packing and villagers and pupils from Seend have been busy collecting 55 shoeboxes.

Beauty therapy students Baya Cotton, Amber Maidment, Natalia Babinksa, Saide Payne, Kirsty Mellen, Lucy Rae, Carrie McFarran, Darcey Potter and Marika Cameron made up shoeboxes for the appeal as well as spending two evening at the depot.

Mr Lloyd said he was very grateful to everyone who helped this year, adding: “For all of the knitters, packers, checkers, people who count the money, the warehouse managers and the many volunteers who have helped this year – thank you, the campaign would not be possible without your commitment and dedication.

“Worthy of particular mention are the local companies which donated time and resources: Myddelton & Major estate agents for sourcing the warehouse; Timber & Allied Services in Westbury for use of their forklift truck; Frampton’s Transport Services and Tufnell’s for pallet loan; Hire Standards in Westbury for loan of a pallet truck; Southwick Scout Group for the loan of tables; Keith Lye for the use of a van for collections; and Hills Waste for refuse disposal.”