Last Christmas, the Salvation Army distributed more than 76,000 gifts helping to bring a smile to the faces of so many children on December 25th. This year, with your generous help, they hope to be able to do so once again.

The village's parish church is therefore, as in previous years, appealing to the community to be as generous as it has been in the past and consider buying a present, so that every child, whose parents are unable to afford presents, can know the joy of a gift on Christmas Day

With the current cost-of-living crisis, thousands of people are expected to ask for help over the festive season and by simply buying a small gift, a youngster's life at Christmas may be made that little brighter.

Villagers are asked to please bring new, unwrapped toys or books, suitable for children up to the age of 16, to the Children Led Service at St. John's Church at 9.30am on Sunday November 17th or leave them at the Vicarage before this date. The presents will be blessed during the service and then taken to the Salvation Army in Ripon the following week. They should be unwrapped as parents are given paper, tape and tags to allow them to wrap the presents for their own children. The Salvation Army asks that no used or second hand items are donated as it “believes that every child deserves a new gift at Christmas”.

A list of possible of suggestions is set out below.

0-3 years: dolls, teddy bears, cot mobiles, baby clothes, bath toys, puzzles

3-5: dolls and action figures, cars, lorries, colouring sets, pencils, crayons, books, puzzles

5-9: educational games & toys, stationery (colouring sets, pencils, crayons, school sets), books, puzzles, wordsearch, crosswords

9-12: games and toys, stationery, books, t-shirts, hair accessories, gloves, scarves, hats

13-16: books, make-up and toiletries (please try to ensure non-allergic ingredients if possible), gloves, scarves, hats, t-shirts, hair accessories and gift vouchers

With grateful thanks in anticipation of a bumper “crop” of presents.