SHOEBOXES full of gifts, which have been donated by schools, churches and organisations across East Lancashire, are among the first to be distributed to needy children in Eastern Europe.
Those collected in Operation Christmas Child in this area are in the first batch of 250,000 being delivered in 19 articulated lorries.
The first distributions started rolling out on Friday and were expected to be finished today.
These deliveries will be followed by a series in 11 other countries, with the final ones taking place in Russia between January 6 and 9.
Operation Christmas Child sends shoeboxes with gifts to children in countries such as Armenia, Bosnia, Romania and the Ukraine.
Boxes were donated throughout the East Lancashire, including Blackburn, Burnley, Chorley, Barnoldswick, Darwen, Rossendale, Accrington, Clitheroe, Colne and Nelson.
Josie Smith, area co-ordinator for the appeal, said: "We are going all out to beat last year's UK and Ireland total of 1.3million shoeboxes, and the local support this year has been fantastic."
Anyone wishing to participate in Operation Christmas Child can contact the helpline on 0870 011 2002.
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