Around 2,000 gifts have been donated to vulnerable children and young people across the county, leaving councillors “overwhelmed” by the generosity of Bucks residents and council staff.

iPads and laptops are among the presents donated to Bucks County Council’s Christmas present appeal – which aims to make children in need feel “special” during the festive season.

When he launched the campaign at the beginning of the month, councillor Paul Irwin said he hoped to beat last year’s present haul of 1,000 – and now a staggering 2,000 have been donated by kind-hearted residents.

Now council staff have the difficult task of wrapping all the gifts before they are handed out to social workers to give to children and teenagers across the county.

Bucks Free Press:

Cllrs Mark Shaw (left) and Paul Irwin

Now in its fourth year the campaign encourages staff and councillors, as well as residents, to donate presents for hundreds of children in need – including those in care.

County councillors Paul Irwin and Mark Shaw have now thanked residents and staff for their generosity as gifts continue to pour through the council’s doors.

Cllr Irwin said: “It’s great to do something so special after the year we have had, it’s almost like a mindful thing for me. I am going to sleep for a whole week at Christmas, but I have absolutely loved it.

“I want to get some feedback from social workers about how it as all gone, because we don’t see that side of things.

“It would be nice for people to know how much their donations have been appreciated. I think people like knowing they are helping children in their own county, because there are really deprived children in Buckinghamshire.

“We can’t change the world but we can change our little bit of it.”

Gifts are also given to homeless people living in refuge centres and young people who are leaving the care system.

Following the success of this year’s campaign the councillors said they will start planning next year’s much earlier to ensure the operation runs smoothly.

Cllr Shaw said: “It has just grown massively. We have had people ringing up and asking how they can get involved.

“We just wanted to make children feel special and look at the present and know people have been thinking about them.

“And seeing that whole room of presents shows just how many people are thinking about children in need. It’s amazing.”