new records look likely to be set as more people than ever prepare to fill shoeboxes full of festive joy for underprivileged children all over the world.

Operation Christmas Child, organised by Christian charity Samaritan's Purse, invites people to send a shoebox of presents to children, mainly in the former communist bloc of eastern Europe, but also in Africa and India.

The Wiltshire branch beat its target of 36,000 boxes when 40,000 were dispatched from the charity's Melksham warehouse last Christmas to Bosnia, Serbia, Odessa in the Ukraine, and Romania.

In the Devizes, Marlborough and Pewsey area alone, 3,600 boxes were sent.

Local organiser Ursula McKinnon said: "Thank you to everyone who supported our campaign last year. It was a tremendous effort.

"You have no idea how much the children enjoy receiving them. There would be no Christmas for them without your generosity."

In the current issue of the Samaritan's Purse magazine, there is a report on children in the Ukraine who are HIV positive.

One such is eight-month-old Anatoliy, who was abandoned on the doorstep of a house when he was born.

A note claimed he was the grandchild of the woman who lived in the house, but she did not want to have anything to do with him.

He is now being cared for at a state orphanage, one of thousands of children in a similar situation throughout the former Soviet Union.

Full details of how to select and fill your shoebox are included in the forms available from the Gazette offices in Devizes and Chippenham.

Items suggested for inclusion are soft toys; toiletries like toothbrush, toothpaste, soap and flannel; a notepad, colouring book or picture book; pencils, pens and paper; a set of crayons or felt pens; a hat, cap, scarf of gloves; a small ball or tennis ball; puzzles; a toy car or truck for boys and jewellery, make-up or hair accessories for girls.

A greetings card of photograph of yourself is always appreciated.

Among items that should not be included are chocolate or other foods other than wrapped sweets; war-related items like toy soldiers or guns; anything made of glass; liquids, marbles or sharp objects; anything of a political, racial or religious nature; medicines and novels.

A cheque for £2 to cover the cost of transportation should also be included.

The boxes should not be sealed so that they can be checked by Operation Christmas Child staff before being sent out.

They can be dropped off at the Gazette offices in Chippenham or Devizes.

Alternatively, Mrs McKinnon is accepting them at her home, 33 Broadleas Road, Devizes, from 10am to 6pm from November 13 to 24.

Otherwise they can go to the Operation Christmas Child warehouse at Unit 12, Hercules Way, Bowerhill, Melksham, from Monday, November 13, 9.30am to 4pm Monday to Saturday until the end of November.