Hundreds of Christmas gifts have been presented to children's centres in Lowestoft and Waveney following a collection by staff at East Coast Community Healthcare (ECCH).

For the past month, staff at the social enterprise - which provides NHS community health services across Norfolk and Suffolk - have been donating toys for children under five in special boxes posted at all ECCH's bases in both counties. An online giving site was also set up for monetary donations and ECCH matched the amount raised and bought more presents to add to the pile, with 250 gifts donated in total.

The children's centres made special requests for musical instruments, sensory toys, books and building blocks. Once all the gifts were gathered together, teams from ECCH's children's services directorate wrapped every one, ahead of them being distributed during Christmas parties at children's centres across Lowestoft and Waveney.

ECCH chief executive Jonathan Williams said: 'Christmas is a time to think about children and particularly those who may not be having the easiest of lives. We asked the children's centre in Lowestoft for guidance on how we could support them and we're delighted our staff have come up trumps, as they always do, and collected a huge amount of presents which I'm sure will bring a smile to lots of little faces.'

Team manager of Lowestoft and Waveney Children's Centre Jenny Carter said: 'We appreciate ECCH staff's generosity in providing these lovely presents. Families love coming to the children's centre groups and activities. This gift will mean that all children who come along to the Christmas parties will receive a present from Santa that will make their day really special.'