STUDENTS are looking to bring some festive cheer to under-privileged children by sending Christmas gifts to Eastern Europe.

Sixth form students at The King’s Academy, in Coulby Newham, Middlesbrough have collected and sorted donations from staff and students for shoeboxes to be sent full of gifts and treats.

The boxes, which supported the Operation Christmas Child campaign for the charity Samaritan’s Pursem were packed with goodies, ranging from pens and paper, to sweets and toys, as well as practical items such as toiletries, toothbrushes and toothpaste, knitted hats, gloves and socks.

Carey Brownless, an assistant vice principal at The King’s Academy, said: “This is the 15th year we have supported the charity and once again there has been a fantastic response from students and their families.

Student Poppy Rodway, 16, said: "We then made sure every box was absolutely stuffed with goodies.”

Amelia Cox, 17, added: “It makes us all appreciate just how lucky we are in this country and this school and we were all really pleased to do something to help children who are so much less fortunate than ourselves.”