Christmas in the port of Southampton is one of the busiest times of the year for the local Mission to Seafarers.

Over the festive season the mission's port chaplain, Michael Williams and his colleagues welcome crew members from all over the world, distribute around 1,000 presents and host a series of carol concerts for maritime organisations that meet at the centre in Queen's Park Terrace.

Working together with the Apostleship of the Sea and the British and International Sailors' Society the mission distributes gifts, including toiletries, knitted hats and gloves together with confectionery to seamen.

Michael said: "We started delivering earlier this month to some of the ships that will be at sea over Christmas on voyages across the world.

"Our small gifts let them know that they are not forgotten and I would like to thank all those congregations from Anglican, Roman Catholic and free churches, together with many individuals, who have donated gifts to make a seafarer's Christmas just that little merrier''.

Among the organisation who have held carol services at the centre have been the Solent Veterans Association, the Merchant Navy Association, the Royal Marines Association and the Association of Wrens while the centre's own service was last Sunday.

The Mission to Seafarers, formerly the Missions to Seamen, in this country and overseas organises special Christmas events and parties at its centre for crew members who may otherwise spend a lonely time away from their homes and families.

A missionary society of the Anglican church the organisation cares for the practical and spiritual welfare of all races and creeds in 300 ports around the globe.

Working through a network of chaplains and staff, on average each year the mission makes 93,000 ship visits and welcomes 700,000 seafarers to its centres, visits 1,000 crew in hospital and helps in more than 1,000 justice and welfare cases.