Staff and students at a Bordon school have delivered an early Christmas present to dozens of Ukrainian children.

Oakmoor School was the biggest contributor to Alton Rotary’s Club’s 2024 Shoebox Drive as they filled 62 with presents in the festive fundraiser.

The initiative has been running for 20 years with wrapped boxes of gifts being handed out to thousands of disadvantaged and displaced children at Christmas time.

And this year’s campaign was equally successful with 168 filled and wrapped boxes being collected locally and delivered to a depot in Bournemouth.

Some 4,000 boxes will soon be heading to the eastern European nation with Oakmoor students, staff and parents being thanked for their generosity by local appeal organisers.

“It has been a great pleasure to gather all these boxes for Alton Rotary District 1110’s Shoebox Drive,” said Claire Seddon, academic and pastoral leader at the school.

“I am so proud of what we have achieved.”

She added: “I would like to thank all the Oakmoor students and their families for their generosity and goodwill in responding to this appeal for shoeboxes to be sent out to Ukrainian children.” 

 “We are very pleased to have played a part in this initiative by Alton Rotary and the response of the school community has reminded me of the kindness that is at the heart of Oakmoor School,” said Oakmoor headteacher, Nigel Wright.

 “We hope that Oakmoor’s efforts and kind donations will bring a smile to lots of children's faces in Ukraine this Christmas."