STAFF at Specsavers in Melksham have given a big 'thank you' to customers for helping to spread some festive cheer to children overseas.

The Bank Street opticians acted as a local collection point for Operation Christmas Child.

They collected 180 goodie-filled shoeboxes full of presents for the annual Samaritans Purse international initiative.

The boxes were delivered to a central warehouse in Westbury to send to disadvantaged youngsters overseas.

Tom Mogford, the Melksham Specsavers' store director, said: "We’d like to thank everyone who has donated and helped to make a child’s Christmas extra special.

"Christmas is all about giving, so it’s fantastic that we’ve been able to get involved with Operation Christmas Child for another year."

The store has taken part for a number of years by helping to make up the shoeboxes themselves or encouraging customers and the local community to help.

However, the store didn’t stop at just shoeboxes, with numerous bags filled with hand-knitted hats and scarves ready to be donated as well.

Samaritan’s Purse is an international relief and development organisation providing aid to disadvantaged communities in Africa, Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

Operation Christmas Child is one of the organisation’s biggest initiatives, with thousands of churches, schools and businesses across the country donating and collecting shoeboxes to be sent overseas.