EALING residents have proved that pleasure really is in giving and not receiving.

Operation Christmas Child, a humanitarian christmas project run by Samaritan's Purse, has been able to send a record 1.22million gift-filled shoeboxes en route for delivery this Christmas and New Year to needy children in countries across the world.

And Ealing residents have contributed significantly to the charity achieving their staggering record.

"This is a fantastic achievement and sets a new record for the total number of shoeboxes collected in the UK," said Gordon McCann, Operation Christmas Child regional manager.

"Everybody who filled a shoebox knows that a child somewhere in Eastern Europe or Africa, who is a victim of war, poverty, disease or disaster, will have a much brighter Christmas thanks to their kindness."

The shoeboxes are destined for children in Liberia, Serbia, Romania, Belarus.

"The donations from individual members of the public, schools, churches, community groups and businesses have been absolutely brilliant this year, as in so many years since Operation Christmas Child began in 1990," said Simon Barrington, of Operation Christmas Child.

"Last year we totalled 1.18 million and to beat that number is all down to the fantastic level of support we continue to get in all parts of the UK - from Wales, Scotland, England and Northern Ireland.

"It is a highly complex operation and would not be possible without so many people giving up their time and volunteering to help in the warehouses - we could not manage without them.

"The tremendous impact that a shoebox containing some simple gifts has upon a child with nothing - and their family - cannot be over emphasised."