YOUNGSTERS at a York primary school have been getting ready for Christmas early in a bid to help make the festive season special for children overseas.

For the past few years Archbishop of York’s CE Junior School in Bishopthorpe has run a shoebox appeal in school to send items as Christmas presents to children in the Balkans and Eastern Europe.

Head teacher Jonathan Green said: “Last year, your generous donations were packed into decorated boxes to support the Children In Distress charity appeal and sent to Romania.

“This year, we are launching our appeal slightly earlier as two teachers from the school, Sally Sutton and Tracey Richards, will be joining a visit to Romania this month to visit the destinations proposed for the shoeboxes.”

The visit, from September Tuesday to Saturday, will include a trip to a hospice, a school for autistic children.

The teachers will also visit a community project, a sheltered holiday centre, a monastery and a child development and therapy centre.

Mr Green said: “For many years, we have considered this appeal – love in a box – to be a worthy cause to support and both Mrs Sutton and Mrs Richards have held a long-standing wish to see where these precious gifts are sent.”