PERFECTLY packed parcels will be making their way out of Bicester thanks to a host of pupils and residents who hope to create a special Christmas.

The town has been getting stuck into this year's Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Appeal and those taking part have packed hundreds of shoeboxes stuffed full of presents to be delivered to those less fortunate around the world.

Pupils at St Edburg's School rolled up their sleeves to wrap and fill more than 60 shoeboxes ready to send off to humanitarian charity Samaritan's Purse.

St Edburg's headteacher, Margaret Kunzer, said the children were inspired to donate toys and small gifts to fill shoe boxes after a visit from the charity.

Rachel Preston, the school’s organiser for the project, said:"This has been a brilliant project and we’ve all been inspired by it.

"It’s so important that our children can help others in a tangible way.

"Everyone helped either by bringing in gifts or by donating money or by helping to wrap the boxes.

"We’re delighted with the response and will definitely be doing this again next year."

Elsewhere in the town more than 250 boxes were wrapped and filled by about 30 volunteers at the main Bicester shoebox appeal staged at Bicester Methodist Church and organised by Daphne McGowan.

Much like Santa's very own workshop, the volunteers joined together towards the end of last month to pack up all the presents in just under three hours.

Shoebox volunteer Bea Foster said: "I keep returning to work with the shoeboxes year after year, as it gives such pleasure to fill them and send them out, knowing they will go directly into the hands of the children, creating pleasure and memories that will last a lifetime."

The shoeboxes from both appeals will be sent abroad to help some of the world's poorest children this Christmas.

The Bicester shoebox appeal had around 30 residents fill up more than 250 shoeboxes with