Keighley’s Airedale Shopping Centre is acting as a collection point for gift-packed shoeboxes to be sent to children across the world.

The centre is supporting Operation Christmas Child, which over the past two decades has sent more than 100 million boxes to disadvantaged youngsters.

A collection point has been set up in Queensway Mall, adjacent to Greggs bakery.

Centre manager Steve Seymour said: “The Airedale Shopping Centre is at the heart of the community and we know how generous our shoppers can be. We have seen this with the fantastic response we had to our collection for Yorkshire Cat Rescue, which is our chosen charity for 2013.”

Operation Christmas Child is run by the charity Samaritan’s Purse, which distributes the shoeboxes, containing items such as school supplies and toys.

Visit operationchristmas child.org.uk for details.