The Hull Daily Mail is stepping in to help make Christmas a little better for some of the poorest children in Europe.

Operation Christmas Child is under way to collect presents for needy children across Romania, Ukraine, Slovakia and Yugoslavia.

Readers are being asked to fill shoeboxes with gifts such as stationery and small toys and take them to the Mail’s offices for collection.

Last year, readers put together 18,461 boxes which were distributed to youngsters in 12 countries in the appeal, co-ordinated by Samaritan’s Purse International, which helps children abroad who are homeless or without family support.

Mail Editor John Meehan said: “This campaign has already brought a great deal of joy to hundreds of children who would otherwise have had no presents to open at Christmas.

“The generosity of our readers never fails to amaze me.”

Churches, offices, schools and community groups have started filling their boxes for the campaign, which has been running for three years, and has been backed by the Mail for the last two.

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