HUNDREDS of Christmas presents for children in vulnerable families have been given to a national charity thanks to a year-long social media campaign by a group of young Wellington women.

The presents went to the Action for Children’s Families First Project – an intensive early intervention programme which in just two years has helped nearly 200 vulnerable Wiltshire families create better futures and opportunities.

The charity will distribute the presents on behalf of Project Wrapped Up 2014, which was founded by mother-oftwo Alice Burns, of Scotts Lane, Wellington.

Alice, with friends Clare Merchant, Karla Tadgell, Louise Harding, Laura Hardy, and Lynsey Wright, have spent the past ten months collecting and selling pre-loved toys and children’s clothing to raise cash to buy new toys for the charity.

Alice said: “Many of the children we’re helping have probably never before been given something new for Christmas because their families face challenges not just at this time of the year, but in every week of the year.

“As one of our Project Wrapped Up 2014 committee members says, ‘no child should ever be told sorry, Santa can’t come this year’.

“We’re really thrilled with all the help we’ve received from so many people in the Wellington, Taunton and Tiverton areas in particular, and across a much wider area of Somerset and Devon.

“We’re also very grateful for the support of members of Wellington Methodist Church who helped with storage and in many other ways.

“Hopefully, everybody’s hard work will help make Christmas a little less financially stressful for the families Action for Children are working with.”

A total of more than £900 was raised – nearly double the original target for Project Wrapped Up 2014.

Alice said Project Wrapped Up 2014 would also make a financial donation to Wellington Toy Library to support its work lending out toys to local families.