SHOPPERS did their bit to make it a happier Christmas for youngsters at a North-East special school.

Visitors to the Galleries, in Washington town centre, were asked to make donations of gifts at the centre's "giving tree".

The tree, supplied by Focus Do It All on the Galleries Retail Park, attracted 86 presents.

Centre manager Les Pickering played Father Christmas, delivering the presents to Wellbank Special School, in Washington, just before the Christmas holiday.

The school has more than 60 pupils, aged three to 13, with a range of learning difficulties, from the Washington, Houghton-le-Spring and north Sunderland areas.

Headteacher Jane McLeod was delighted the school was nominated to receive the proceeds of the giving tree this year.

"The school is continuously raising money to provide better facilities, learning materials and resources for the children, so we were delighted when the Galleries presented us with the gifts," she said