KIRKBYMOORSIDE Community Primary School pupils are hoping to bring some Christmas cheer to children less fortunate than themselves.

In conjunction with the Samaritan's Purse Operation Christmas Child appeal, the school is sending shoe boxes full of gifts to needy children across the world.

As well as toys, sweets and Christmas cards, pupils are sending practical items such as toothbrushes and shampoo.

Headteacher Gill Hardacre said the school was expecting to send around 50 boxes to the appeal. Last Christmas, more than 1m shoe boxes were collected in the UK, and over 5m worldwide were delivered to children in 95 countries.

Updated: 12:42 Wednesday, November 19, 2003