DARYHL Haslam, eight, Jordan Fletcher, six, Nicola Whitson, nine, and Sam Powell, five, were among youngsters at a York school who helped poverty-stricken children thousands of miles away by sending shoe boxes full of gifts.

Pupils from Stockton-on-the-Forest Primary School have been taking part in Operation Christmas Child, run by Samaritan's Purse.

The children filled more than 40 boxes with toys, sweets, stationery, jigsaws and books to send a message of hope to underprivileged children around the world.

A spokeswoman for the school said: "It is nice for the pupils to help poorer children in other countries that do not have as much as them."

Updated: 11:31 Saturday, November 23, 2002