An early Christmas appeal by the Mid Devon Star has proved a big hit with readers.

The Newsquest group's only weekly free in Devon, which covers a mainly rural population, took the unusual step of launching a shoebox appeal on behalf of children in Eastern Europe and Afghanistan in September, because of the time-scale involved in delivery.

More than 700 have been received at its office in Tiverton, and the total is expected to exceed 850.

Chief reporter Wayne Bishop said: "We were asking a lot of our readers.

"They had to find a shoebox, Christmas wrap the top and bottom separately, then fill it with toys, sweets, pens, pencils and paper, and make a donation towards transportation.

"That we received so many - outside the traditional Christmas period - proves how strong we are in the region."

Pictured above are Mid Devon Star staff Wayne Bishop, Cathy Drury and Linda Maber with some of the boxes which were brought into the Tiverton offices.

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