A SEVEN-YEAR-OLD girl from Kidderminster has been collecting donations on her school playground for our Christmas Gift Appeal to bring some festive cheer to children in need.

It’s the last weekend to donate to The Shuttle’s 15th annual Gift Appeal with charity Home-Start Wyre Forest, which ensures local children aged 0-18 have a present to open on Christmas day.

Donations have been flooding in from families, community groups and businesses across Wyre Forest – including six bagfuls from kind-hearted schoolgirl Madison Keen, who asked her mum to give her Christmas presents to other children less fortunate.

Madison’s mum Amanda said: “She came downstairs one day and said mummy I only want one or two presents off my list this Christmas because there are children out there who don’t have anything and I want them to go to those children instead.

“I put a post on Facebook and spoke to Madison and said shall we try and help some of these children who don’t have much?

“One of our neighbours is a volunteer for Home-Start so we decided to start collecting some donations.”

Madison told her teacher at Franche Primary School about her plans, and arranged to speak in front of her year three class about the Gift Appeal and encourage other pupils to donate.

Amanda said: “We’ve had gifts coming in from family and friends and children have been handed their donations to Madison on the school playground. Other parents have been donating too.

“I’m just really proud of Madison for thinking of others.”

Madison dropped off two large present bags and four bags for life filled with gifts to Home-Start’s Kidderminster office on Friday.

Presents can be donated until Sunday, December 15. After then, Home-Start staff and volunteers will deliver the gifts to the families they are supporting - ready to open on Christmas day.

Donations can be of any value but must be new and unwrapped.

Drop-off points are located at the Swan Centre Management Suite, Midcounties Co-op Stourport and Franche stores, Tesco main stores in Kidderminster and Stourport, Wright Solicitors in Bewdley, St Mary's Church in Harvington, and Weaver's Wharf outlets: McDonald's, Debenhams, DW Sports, TH Bakers, Savers, Boots, Sports Direct and Greggs.

For more information about Home-Start and the Shuttle Gift Appeal or to become a volunteer, visit homestartwyreforest.org.uk or call 01562 825896.