Shoeboxes filled with Christmas gifts from schoolchildren and other donors have to go through their own form of quality control before being sent off to the needy.

And that is what has been happening during the last few weeks at St Mark’s Church in Colney Heath which has been transformed into a warehouse for Operation Christmas Child.

Up to 4,000 shoeboxes are being checked by 60 volunteers before being taped and packed into cartons to go Africa or Eastern Europe where they are given to children who otherwise would not receive a Christmas present this year.

For more information and to complete a shoebox online visit www.operationchristmaschild.org.uk