Generous Somerset County Gazette readers have donated more than £1,000 to a child protection charity's Festival of Trees to help support abused children in Somerset.

Gazette editor Ken Bird said: "Yet again, our loyal readers have come up trumps.

"The appeal's success caps another cracking year for the paper and its hard-working team."

Deborah Da'Bell, the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children's community appeals manager in the South-West, said: "We would like to express a big thank you to everybody who has supported the appeal and to everybody who has supported our work locally and nationally over the years.

"Without such support we'd not be in a position to help as many children as we do in Somerset.

"But the NSPCC is needed throughout the year. This appeal may be coming to an end, but child abuse in Somerset isn't."

The Festival of Trees saw a number of companies sponsoring Christmas trees - supplied by Langford Lakes - and individuals buying gift boxes to hang in the theatre.

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