FIFTEEN thousands shoeboxes of gifts collected by people across Hampshire begin their journey across Europe tonight.

They are going to Bosnia as part of Operation Christmas Child – the Samaritan’s Purse International relief appeal.

Thousands of stocking fillers have already been dispatched to Swaziland in Africa and a further shipment will leave for Romania in December.

The boxes, collected, sorted and delivered by an army of volunteers, have been donated by people across Hampshire and Berkshire and kept ready for departure at a warehouse in Chandler’s Ford.

Warehouse manager Mary Le Feuvre said: “We are amazed by the sheer number of boxes we have received this year. It’s especially impressive that these donations have been made despite the tough economic climate. We thank everyone for their generosity.

Operation Christmas Child is the world’s largest children’s Christmas project.

It has been sending gift-filled shoeboxes around the world since 1990, bringing festive cheer into the lives of more than 80 million underprivileged children.

Last year, children and adults alike wrapped and packed around 1.12 million shoeboxes full of gifts and goodies, which were then sent to disadvantaged children across Africa, eastern Europe and central Asia.