PEOPLE have been rallying around to help those facing a bleak Christmas after the collapse of a savings scheme.

Many were left devastated after it was announced last week that Swindon-based firm Farepak had gone into liquidation, leaving savers without the hampers and vouchers they had counted on for Christmas.

Among those affected were Woolworths workers from Warminster who were in tears as they heard the news.

Grandmother Shirley Fitzsimons, 48, lost the £600 she had counted on to pay for a family Christmas and gifts for her four children, including seven-year-old Kieran, and five grandchildren.

She said: "It is devastating, how can you explain this to children? You work all year to pay for Christmas and then it is gone in a flash."

The plight of the estimated 100,000 savers affected by the firm's collapse has touched the hearts of many.

Individuals, firms and organisations in Wiltshire have been dipping into their own pockets to help.

At RAF Lyneham in north Wiltshire, collection boxes have been distributed around the base to collect toys for the families affected by the firm's collapse.

Wing Commander Jeff Green said: "If in some small way we can help rectify the problems caused by Farepak's closure, this would bring joy to many children."

The items collected by the RAF will be picked up by radio station GWR which has launched the Give a Kid a Christmas campaign to encourage people to buy just one extra Christmas present to go to those in need.

Members of the British Retail Association this week agreed in principle to offer a goodwill gesture to those affected after meeting with Trade and Industry minister Ian McCartney and firms across Wiltshire are already doing what they can to help.

In Trowbridge ASDA supermarket has set up a collection point for customers to bring along donations.

Emma Leitch from the store said: "Customers were asking what they could do and one lady brought in a trolley full of toys which was a great start so we decided to set up a collection point at the front of the store."

Pat Morrissey, 57, was the agent for Farepak who collected up money from her colleagues at Woolworths.

She said: "Obviously it is nice people are doing this. There are people with small children and they are going to find it really hard but I think the company should have done more in the first place. There are thousands of people affected by this."

Fort further details of how to donate through the Give a Kid a Christmas campaign visit www.wiltshiresgwrfm.co.uk Farepak customers and agents can claim against the company by post to Farepak Food and Gifts Ltd - in Administration, King's Wharf, 20-30 Kings Road, Reading, Berkshire, RG1 3EX, by email to customer.claims@farepak. co.uk or by fax to (01793) 606057.