GENEROUS people in Bolton have been getting into the Christmas spirit early this year.

Youngsters at Our Lady of Lourdes School in Farnworth have been filling shoe boxes with Christmas gifts for children in poor countries.

So far, they have filled more than 100 boxes with goodies for Operation Christmas Child.

And The Entertainer store at Middlebrook Retail and Leisure Park in Horwich is also collecting boxes for the appeal.

The charity supports needy children devastated by war, poverty, natural disaster and Aids.

Last year, more than 9,000 shoe boxes were collected in Bolton and were handed out to children in orphanages and hospitals in Romania.