A CAR firm is hoping its shoebox campaign will step into top gear in the next few days.

Schools, community groups, parents and children are being encouraged to fill shoeboxes with small gifts to help under-privileged children at Christmas.

Car dealership Dixon Ford, in Crostons Road, Bury, is a shoebox drop-off point for charity Operation Christmas Child until the end of November, when the gifts will be distributed to youngsters around the world.

The dealership has already received hundreds of boxes and hopes to double the number of 15,000 collected last year.

But due to import regulations, gifts should be new or nearly new, such as cuddly toys, pens and pencils, a tennis ball or jigsaw puzzles.

And if it is not possible for supporters to get the boxes to the dealership by November 30, they will collect the shoeboxes so a donation can still be made.

For more information or to donate a box after the end of the collection, telephone Beverley on 764 5454.