Gift-wrapping operation for disadvantaged families

Council offices were transformed into a production line of Christmas wrapping to donate gifts for disadvantaged children.

Twelve volunteers spent a full day at the Epping Forest District Council headquarters preparing about 700 presents for families in the area.

Local schools had helped with identifying about 263 children - aged up to 17 years old - who were already eligible for extra support.

The council's community development and wellbeing team manager, Vanessa Gayton, said it was a "really lovely atmosphere" at the council on Friday.

"This is for families whose children may not ordinarily receive a gift, they might not be able to afford a gift or they're low-income families," she said.

"We've got the Christmas music going, we've got the refreshments and mince pies and the biscuits for everybody and there is a tower of presents."

On Friday, the pile of presents were taken by the council's housing management company, Qualis, to about 18 schools.

Presents were also donated to Norway House, the council's hostel for people experiencing homelessness.

"We've had amazing donations from local supermarkets, from local shops and really importantly from our very generous residents, our public," said Ms Gayton.

She said Waltham Abbey FC and Waltham Abbey fire station donated to the initiative.

The Christmas giving campaign was in its sixth year and the council had run it for the last two years, Ms Gayton added.

"Last year we had 300 referrals [for families] so we wrapped nearly 1,000 presents and we're definitely on target for that this year," she added.

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