GENEROUS students and staff at Brighton Hill Community College have donated a staggering 576 gift-filled shoeboxes to the world's poorest children.

As part of the Operation Christmas Child appeal, most of the impressive collection is now on its way to underprivileged children living in eastern Europe.

Samaritan's Purse, the international charity organising the campaign, collected the majority of boxes last week, but have had to return for more because there were so many.

Pauline Hughes, head of the lower school, said: "The people nearly fell over when they came to the school to collect them all. They've got to come back again because they couldn't get them all in the van.

"Next year, we'll have even more. We'll have to send our own lorry over."

Each school year was shown the charity's promotional video in assembly, and tutor groups were given a target of collecting 10 boxes between them.

Mrs Hughes added: "We're very proud of them all - all the staff and the students. It was a whole school effort."

Jane Heath, deputy headteacher at Bishopswood Infants School, Tadley, has helped organise their collection of 50 gift boxes.

She said: "We're lucky we are situated in a very sharing community. As well as helping these children in war-torn countries, it has also enabled us to teach the children here that Christmas is a time of giving, and to teach them to share."

Children at Main Road Methodist Church's youth church in Tadley have also been taking part and managed to collect almost 20 boxes.

The appeal ends this week, but there is still time to hand them in at the Gazette offices in Church Street, in the town centre or Pelton Road, Basingstoke, from 9am until 5pm, between now and Monday.

The deadline was set to be this Friday, but has been extended, so there is still time to buy a few gifts over the weekend and fill another box!

For further details, log on to www.samaritanspurse.uk.com or call 0870 011 2002