Staff and students at Cambridge Regional College have donated more than 400 Christmas presents to children in need across the county

Bumper Christmas present collection for children in need

The gifts, collected in response to an appeal by Cambridgeshire County Council, will go to children and young teenagers who would otherwise have nothing to open on Christmas Day

CRC head of apprenticeships Angela Hughes, who organised the collection, said the appeal had brought in a flood of presents from generous staff, students and local businesses.

“It is heart-breaking to think of so many children going without a present on Christmas Day,” she said. “We have been able to collect a fantastic amount of presents thanks to the generosity of our staff and students. We even had support from outside the college, with local businesses Anglia Revenues Partnership and Taylor Vinters donating gifts.

“This is the fourth year we have donated Christmas presents and each year the number of children in need seems to grow. It is very sad but we are delighted that we can do something to help.”

Nikki Doherty, from Cambridgeshire Social Services, said the presents – which filled several cars – would help make Christmas special for children up to the age of 14.

“The presents are all going to children who would otherwise go without this Christmas,” she said. “The majority will be given to parents to wrap and give to their children so they have something to open on Christmas Day, and we have a lot of children in longer term foster care.

“Thank you to everybody who contributed and donated presents. It is just amazing and heart-warming to know there are so many people who are willing to support families in need.”