PEOPLE across Wyre Forest who want to make Christmas better for children less fortunate than themselves are being urged to pack a shoebox with goodies.

The annual Operation Christmas Child is underway, with organisers in the district hoping to at least match the success of last year's scheme, which encourages people to send inexpensive items to eastern European countries.

Lynn Price, Wyre Forest organiser for the charity, said 20,000 shoeboxes filled with items ranging from toys to soap had been despatched to Romania for Christmas 2003 from the central Hartlebury Trading Estate-based collection warehouse.

"Throughout the UK last year, over one million shoeboxes were sent," she explained, adding: "Some went to the school in Beslan."

In the intervening year, the Russian school made grim headlines all over the world as the school where children and adults were massacred by Chechen terrorists.

Mrs Price said the first lorry taking shoeboxes from the UK this year would be going to Beslan.

Mrs Price believed the simplicity of a scheme which could generate such happiness was what made it so popular.

"It's so simple and it's such a caring thing to do," she explained. "Many of the local schools and churches take part in it."

She added: "I think that we're building bridges of peace for our children's future. It's actually from a child to a child. It's a friendship thing and goodwill and isn't that what Christmas is all about?

"These children know, through the gift of a shoebox, that someone cares about them."

The shoebox appeal has been running for 10 years. Among items that can be packed into an average-sized shoebox are pencils and pens, a hat, gloves or scarf, a tennis ball or small jigsaw puzzle.

Things which should not be packed include edible items such as chocolate or crisps, war-related articles, such as toy guns or soldiers or marbles or sharp objects.

Shoeboxes should be made up either for a boy or a girl, in the age ranges of two-four, five-nine and 10-14.

Kidderminster drop-off points for shoeboxes - up until Saturday, November 20 - are Just Play, in Stadium Close, Brooklyn Citroen garage, Worcester Road, Hoover Clinic, Comberton Road and the Shuttle/Times and News offices, Blackwell Street. St Anne's Church, Bewdley is also taking shoeboxes.

Further details are available from Mrs Price on 01562 637801.