MORE than 50 children will find an extra present under their Christmas tree this year, thanks to kindhearted shoppers.

Once again visitors to Barnards Green have helped provide sackfuls of gifts in Home-Start Malvern Hills’ annual Christmas gift appeal.

The charity, based in Upper Chase Road, Barnards Green, asks shoppers to consider buying an extra gift for one of its children while they are doing their Christmas shopping.

Toy Corner and Just So are supporting the scheme by displaying the charity’s Christmas Gift Tag Trees, so their customers can take a tag and buy a small present for the child named on it.

Home-Start scheme manager Jess Bird said: “We’ve been running this scheme in Malvern for six years now and every year it’s a real joy to see how many people take the trouble to choose a present for a child they’ve never met.

“The families we work with come from all walks of life and this appeal is simply a way of showing that whatever difficulties parents and children may be facing, people out there are thinking of them and wishing them well.”

“We’re always looking for new parent volunteers who remember how hard it can be when children are very young and would like to use that experience to help others.”

Home-Start is one of the leading UK family support charities with independently funded local schemes in more than 300 areas across the UK.

Families come to Home-Start for friendly support to cope with whatever life throws at them, whether that is illness, disability, bereavement, relationship difficulties or many other issues.