KINDHEARTED churchgoers have rallied round to replace Christmas presents which were stolen earlier this week.

As reported in the BEN, thieves had taken 70 shoe boxes packed full of gifts which had been put together for orphanages and poverty-stricken families in countries including Romania.

Members of the congregation at Trinity Church in Farnworth had spent months collecting gifts for the boxes, such as toiletries and sweets.

The Rev Jim Dobson, minister at Trinity Church in Market Street, was heartbroken to find that the boxes, which had been wrapped and were ready to be delivered to a collection point set up by the charity Samaritans' Purse, had been stolen on Sunday night. The raiders had smashed a window, ransacked the office and snatched the boxes along with a stereo used by the church's youth group.

But, following an appeal for help in the BEN, churchgoers have pulled out all the stops and gathered enough presents to fill 20 shoe boxes.

And they were hoping that even more boxes could be filled today at the church's Christmas Fair and at services tomorrow which will be held at 10.30am and 6.15pm.

Anyone who would like to make gift contributions or donations can visit the church this weekend. HEARTBROKEN: Rev Jim Dobson