CHRISTMAS will be a little brighter for over 400 disadvantaged children around the world – thanks to the generosity of Halesworth residents.

Since spring, staff at Rosedale Funeral Home, together with local people, have been filling shoeboxes with gifts and goodies for the charity Samaritan's Purse.

The boxes will go to underprivileged youngsters as far afield as Africa, Central Asia and Eastern Europe

Staff member Dee Besley, said: ''We find great joy in the wrapping and filling of the boxes.

'The support has been fantastic with contributions from so many individuals, the churches and Southwold Primary School to name a few. I'd like to say a huge thank you to everyone for their help – especially the ladies who've been knitting the hats, scarves and mittens and bringing items for us to add to our boxes.

'We start early in the year, as we know how busy everyone gets in the run up to Christmas, although it does feel a bit odd wrapping up gifts when the sun is shining. The result speaks for itself, we have more than doubled last year's total.

'When you see how much pleasure just one small box can bring to a child who wouldn't otherwise have anything to open at Christmas it is very humbling.'

Operation Christmas Child, run by Samaritan's Purse, distributed more than 1.18m shoeboxes last year.

• The shoeboxes are collected from Rosedale early in November by the charity. Anyone interested in finding out more ready for next year can contact Rosedale Funeral Home on 01986 875588.