A KIND-HEARTED Kingswinford mum has been doing her bit to spread festive cheer to needy children around the world.

For the last six years Tara Patel has been supporting international relief and development charity Samaritans Purse and its annual Operation Christmas Child appeal which invites people to fill a shoebox with goodies to help bring smiles to underprivileged youngsters overseas over the festive season.

And this year - she has personally collected more than 300 boxes filled with toys and gifts, after wrapping empty boxes with help from her mum and distributing them to friends, family and a host of community groups including her including Rainbow Nursery in Wordsley.

She has also given talks about the project which her young sons Finley and Keiran Hassell, aged six and three, have also been helping her with.

Tara said: "I am extremely proud to participate with Operation Christmas Child, and I give my sincere thanks and gratitude to everyone who has supported me by filling a shoebox."

She said son Finley has been saving his pocket money to buy items to fill his shoebox and she added: "He's really enjoyed being part of the project, so this year I took him to the local warehouse in the Black Country to let him observe the whole process of what happens to his filled shoebox."

Di Martin-Summers, Operation Christmas Child network co-ordinator, said: "A shoebox packed with gifts can have a big impact on a child`s life. It brings love, hope and joy to children and their communities all over the world.

"This year the new Black Country team is collecting the boxes from schools, churches, individuals and getting them ready for export. We are hoping to send around 20,000 shoeboxes to children in need."

Since 1990, more than 146 million underprivileged youngsters in more than 150 countries have received a Christmas gift packed by children or adults in the UK as part of the Operation Christmas Child appeal.