Alcester community rallies to provide 700 gifts to town's children

A team from Alcester Minster churches worked together for five hours to wrap the 700 gifts

A community has pulled together to provide 700 Christmas presents for children from cash-strapped families.

The Alcester Minster churches' group launched the Give a Gift project earlier this month and was inundated with support from people across the Warwickshire town.

The initiative provides presents for 200 children in Alcester.

After a public appeal, gifts began pouring in and will be handed out in time for Christmas Day.

Families struggling with the rising cost of living were identified through the church and local schools so they could be offered help with Christmas presents.

The gifts were provided by members of the community in Alcester

A tag was then created with basic information about the child as well as a brief description of their Christmas wish.

The tags were then placed on a Christmas tree in St Nicholas Church with people encouraged to take a tag, buy a gift and then bring their gift to either Alcester Community Library or to a Gift Giving service.

A team from the church spent five hours wrapping donated gifts ready for the festive period.

The Revd Katie Cross, rector of the Alcester Minster churches, said: "We are so thankful for the generosity of everyone involved and know that many families this year will celebrate Christmas knowing they have been embraced by love."