GAZETTE Newspapers is today launching an appeal with international charity Samaritan's Purse to help provide more than one million of the world's poorest children with a Christmas present this year.

Since 1990, Operation Christmas Child has delivered shoeboxes containing simple gifts such as crayons, sweets and small toys to more than 23 million children in parts of eastern Europe, including Bosnia, Serbia and Romania.

During last year alone, more than 1.3 million boxes were delivered, with 10,000 from Basingstoke and surrounding areas, including Reading, Newbury and Hook.

This Christmas, the charity is hoping to reach even more under-privileged children and, for the first time, will be delivering boxes to children in Mozambique and Kyrgyzstan.

Roger Fenton, regional co-ordinator for the South of England, said: "There are still large numbers of children in many countries where war, poverty and natural disasters have left them with nothing.

"We deal with families living in awful conditions - in old railway trucks and buildings partly destroyed by shellfire, and even street kids who live in sewers.

"The gift box brings toys and clothes to brighten difficult lives and, most importantly, hope and love from the person packing the box here in Britain.

"Boxes are distributed to needy children regardless of their nationally, political background or religious beliefs."

Gazette Newspapers editor Mark Jones encouraged all readers to give generously.

He said: "Operation Christmas Child is an annual appeal which Gazette Newspapers is delighted to support. Our readers have always responded with great generosity and I am sure that they will do so again this year."

Any school, church, company or individual can start their own collection of gift boxes.

Samaritan's Purse will pick up collections of 50 boxes or more and readers can drop them off at the Gazette offices at Church Street in the town centre or Pelton Road, Basingstoke. Both are open between normal office hours, Monday to Friday.

If you would like to take part, or need more information, contact the helpline on 0870 011 2002 or log on to www.samaritans purse.co.uk

Due to import regulations, all goods should be new or nearly new. Please select from the following YES items:

a cuddly toy

a toothbrush, toothpaste, a bar of soap

a notepad, colouring book, picture books

pencils and pens

a set of crayons or felt pens

a hat, cap, gloves, scarf

a small ball or tennis ball

a puzzle e.g. small jigsaw

for boys: a toy car, truck, passenger plane or similar item

for girls: jewellery e.g. pair of clip earrings, make-up or hair accessories

a greetings card or a photo of yourself

sweets (must be well within sell-by date)

Do not include items from any of the following categories:

other edible items e.g. crisps, biscuits, tinned food or cake

war-related items e.g. toy guns and soldiers, knives

clothing (other than listed above)

glass containers, mirrors or fragile items

liquids of any type e.g blow bubbles, shampoos, bubble bath, toiletry sets or aerosols

toys which depend on batteries

marbles or sharp objects

anything of a political, racial or religious nature

medicines

books with words

Will you please make sure your gifts are age appropriate and that you do not send any items in a shoe box (intended for a small child) which might be swallowed or mistaken for sweets.

Should you inadvertently include any item that is not suitable or might be regarded as dangerous for the intended child, Samaritan's Purse reserves the right of remove that item and use it for the benefit of the charity.