Pupils at St Gilbert’s Primary School, in Stamford, send shoeboxes of gifts to Ukraine through Helping Our Ukrainian Friends convoy

School pupils spread a little pre-Christmas joy for children affected by the war in Ukraine.

Children at St Gilbert’s Primary School, in Stamford, and their families generously donated shoeboxes containing gifts for Ukrainian children.

It was in response to an appeal by the Helping Our Ukrainian Friends group, based in Helpston, Stamford and Peterborough, which was supported by churches and schools across the area.

The shoe boxes were collected from the school by group member Elizabeth Happs and last week taken in a five-vehicle convoy of aid to Gliwice, a Polish town near the border with Ukraine, where many refugee families fled.

The shoeboxes were to be given out at a children’s Christmas party put on by the group.

In school, the children also wrote cards to accompany the shoeboxes with a message in Ukrainian thanks to the help of fellow pupils who came to Stamford from Ukraine.