IT'S not too late to sent a box of Christmas goodies and put a smile on a child's face.

That is the message from Operation Christmas Child.

The scheme, run by the charity Samaritan's Purse, sends shoeboxes full of presents to children in poorer parts of the World.

Last year, a number of schools and organisations in the Malvern area took part, sending hundreds of boxes to needy children in Eastern Europe.

Regional co-ordinator Bob James said: "The area that I cover - Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Gloucestershire, with a bit of Oxfordshire - sent 47,000 boxes and the Malvern area made a strong contribution towards that.

"A lot of it was organised by schools but individuals can also make a contribution. If you go to the Lyttelton Well in Great Malvern, they have all the leaflets telling you what to do, what to sent and not to send and so on.

"For most of the children who these boxes are shipped to, it will be the only Christmas present they will get.

"There is still time; if we get boxes by the third week of November, we will be able to get them to Eastern Europe for Christmas."

Among schools taking part this year are The Chase, Dyson Perrins, Hanley Castle, Malvern Parish, West Malvern and St Joseph's, plus the Madresfield Early Learning Centre, 1st Malvern Scouts and Lansdown Methodist Church.

Staff at Worcestershire County Council have collected some 200 shoeboxes for the scheme. Sue Matthews at County Hall, who organised the collection, said they had doubled last year's achievement.

She said: "I'm thrilled with the response we've had to the project. Hopefully, we can bring a little Christmas cheer to those that need it most."