SANTA will be tiptoeing into homes of more children across Darlington thanks to the work of “Silent Santa”.

Silent Santa, an anonymous well-wisher, is organising a collection of gifts for underprivileged youngsters who would otherwise have few or no presents on Christmas Day.

People are asked to fill shoe boxes wrapped in Christmas paper with gifts for youngsters in the age brackets five to six, seven to eight and nine to 11, marking the age and which gender they would suit.

Estate manager, Eddie Humphries, said: “It is really heart-breaking to think of any child being forgotten at Christmas, but not every child has the home circumstances we’d want for our own family.

“It can make a real difference for a child to feel valued enough to receive a gift and we are all delighted to be able to help spread the magic of Christmas and make that happen.”

Boxes can include toys, games, stationery, toiletries, sweets, hair ties and bows combs, brushes, hats, gloves and scarves and craft kits.

Do not include anything that could melt or leak, nuts or dangerous items such as knives and boxes need to be donated before next Thursday, December 12 for distribution around the borough.

Santa will also be looking after older folk through Home Instead Senior Care’s ‘Be Santa to a Senior’ appeal to give back to older people in the community.

Both collections are being facilitated by Lingfield Point and donations can be left in the Beehive building or Lingfield House.