Disadvantaged children from around the world are set to enjoy some festive cheer thanks to Suffolk police.

SUFFOLK: Disadvantaged children from around the world are set to enjoy some festive cheer thanks to Suffolk police.

The county's force backed a charity appeal to fill shoeboxes full of goodies which will be sent to youngsters in hospitals, orphanages, internally displaced persons camps, homeless shelters and impoverished neighbourhoods.

Officers and staff managed to fill 102 shoeboxes as part of the Samaritan's Purse Operation Christmas Child campaign - an increase on the 93 filled a year earlier.

The boxes were collected from Ipswich Police Station, in Elm Street, and taken to the central collection point.

Altogether 16,500 boxes were collected from the IP postcode area and will be going to Serbia and the Crimea.

Inspector Becky Kidd-Stanton, operations inspector at Ipswich who organised the collection again this year, said: “The response from constabulary members has been phenomenal.

“Hopefully the gifts will provide some joy this Christmas for children who come from underprivileged backgrounds in remote areas of the world.

“I would personally like to thank everyone who has made a contribution.

“The response has been so good over the last two years that I hope to run it again next year.”

Further information about the Samaritan's Purse Operation Christmas Child can be found at www.operationchristmaschild.org.uk

Are you raising money for charity this Christmas? Call the newsdesk on 01473 324790 or e-mail starnews@eveningstar.co.uk