A CHARITABLE couple have been recognised for their work for underprivileged children.

Phil and Karen Boulding from Lower Darwen were honoured at the Blackburn with Darwen Good Neighbour Awards after they provided 700 sacks of presents for children who would have gone without at Christmas.

The duo set up not-for-profit company Secret Santa Ltd last July and began collecting donations and toys, setting themselves an initial target of collecting enough presents to fill 200 sacks.

Santa sacks included six presents including selection boxes, stocking fillers, books and board game or puzzles.

Mr Boulding said: "We both love Christmas and wanted to do something for the community.

"We originally set ourselves a target of 200 sacks, but after meeting with executive member for child services Cllr Maureen Bateson we raised it to 700.

"We worked with Blackburn with Darwen children's services and eight children centres were provided with 200 Christmas sacks which they distributed.

"The other 500 were distributed to the most underprivileged children in Blackburn and Darwen."

It wasn't just youngsters who benefited from the Boulding's Christmas spirit, the couple also managed to bring some festive cheer to lonely older people.

The former project manager said:"When we were looking for donations last time, we had a lot of people telling us that there are many older people in the borough who don't see anyone from month to month.

"We decided that we would use anything leftover money and gifts to provide something for them.

"In the end we managed to provide a Christmas meal and presents for one hundred lonely older people.

"This year we will want to try and help 1,000 people in Blackburn with Darwen.

"We have upped our target to 750 Christmas sacks and are aiming to provide a Christmas lunch for 250 people this year."

The Good Neighbour Awards were sponsored by local manufacturer MGS Plastics, Blackburn Rovers, Capita, Blackburn with Darwen Clinical Commissioning Group and McDonald’s.

He said: "It was great to be nominated and a real surprise to win.

"It was amazing that there were so many people who had found so many ways to help each other.

"It's a shame we didn't have the BBC down to see it, after that panorama programme about divided Blackburn I think they would have come away with a completely different opinion."