Only a few days remain for residents to drop off shoeboxes laden with gifts, for the Samaritans’ Christmas Child appeal.

The Watford branch of Leeds Building Society in The Parade has been supporting the cause since the start of the month.

As the appeal reaches its final few days, with the official deadline for dropping shoeboxes on November 18, the building society is still accepting boxes for the first few days of next week.

Simon Barrington, from the Samaritans, said: "Operation Christmas Child has been running since 1990 and we would love to reach the milestone of delivering our 100 millionth gift-filled shoebox this year.

"People should fill their shoebox with simple items such as scarves, toothbrushes, pens and soft toys."