As Christmas approaches most shops are preparing to sell presents, but a select few in Wiltshire will also collect them, as Operation Christmas Child gets under way.

The annual charity drive sends wrapped shoeboxes full of gifts to needy children in Africa and eastern Europe.

Filled boxes can dropped off in stores throughout west Wiltshire until November 23.

Naomi Instone, the store manager at Shoe Zone in Trowbridge, said: “We’ve already had a lot of people come in for shoe boxes and we’ll give them to anyone who wants one. We give a lot of them to a lady from a local church.”

At Chantry Television in Westbury, a drop-off point for many years, manager Colin Ludlow said: “We’ve had quite a few come in for leaflets already. They can drop in their completed boxes at any time.”

Joining the appeal for the first time will be Specsavers in Melksham. Dispensing assistant Trudy Nash said: “Our store manager, Julie, has come up from Bath, where they always took part, and we wanted to get involved.”

Boxes can be handed in at the Wiltshire Times office in Duke Street, Trowbridge, or at the Samaritan’s Purse depot in Bowerhill, and via collections in supermarkets.

If you take part in the appeal, or have pictures, email wtimes@newswilts.co.uk.

* Drop-off points: Wiltshire Times, 15 Duke Street, Trowbridge; Shoe Zone, 52 Fore Street, Trowbridge; Samaritan’s Purse, Unit 12 Hercules Way, Bowerhill; Specsavers, 29 Bank Street, Melksham; Tillions, 6A The Shambles, Bradford on Avon; Sainsbury’s, Elm Cross, Bradford on Avon; Chantry TV, 4 High Street, Westbury; Warminster Prep School, 11 Vicarage Street; Warminster Information Centre, Station Road.