AN aid worker is appealing for people to fill shoe boxes full of goodies to bring Christmas cheer to Albanian orphans.

Roy Ewart will be making his tenth visit to the country over the festive season, but he needs people to start collecting gifts now so they can be delivered in time.

Roy of Dalton Street, Burnley, said: "I need boxes for boys and girls of all ages. I have lists of items that can be collected and the boxes need to be clearly labelled with the sex and age of the recipient.

"The last date for posting the shoe boxes is November 13 so I am appealing for people to get involved now.

"This year the aid mission has received the personal backing of comedian Rowan Atkinson. I have been sent autographed pictures of him as Mr Bean which I will be giving to the children because they love the character."

Care Albania, based in Milton Keynes, will deliver the boxes to the country and Roy will personally give them to orphans.

Roy's charity Rehoboth Albania pays for Christian Albanian women to teach skills such as sewing, knitting and needlecraft to girls in the orphanages while men are paid to teach the boys music.

Roy can be contacted on 01282 703809.

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