SCHOOLCHILDREN in Weymouth have been getting into the charity spirit by filling shoeboxes with goodies.

Pupils from St Nicholas and St Lawrence Primary School in Upwey have been collecting the boxes and cramming them with presents to be sent to children in other countries as part of the Samaritan's Purse International project Operation Christmas Child.

The project aims to make the festive season a little bit brighter for hundreds of less fortunate youngsters in other European countries like Romania and Albania by ensuring that they get a wrapped-up shoebox filled with gifts.

And Maureen Jaques, headteacher at St Nicholas and St Lawrence School, has said that besides the pupils, the local churches and the community have become very involved in the project.

And she added that the school has collected more boxes than they ever imagined.