KIND-HEARTED staff at a Halesowen have helped collect Christmas presents for underprivileged children as part of Operation Santa.

Chartered accountants Nicklin LLP continued its annual tradition of helping the campaign run by Dudley Council for Voluntary Services (CVS) and Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council.

The appeal provides gifts for youngsters from less privileged backgrounds that would otherwise go without Christmas presents.

Nicklin’s managing partner Harvey Owen said: “I am overwhelmed at the response we have received.

"On behalf of everyone at Nicklin LLP, I would like to say how very grateful we are for the tremendous generosity that has been shown by our clients.

"And speaking personally, I would also like to thank the Nicklins team for their donations, too."

He added: “Over 15,000 children in the borough of Dudley are currently living below the poverty line and thousands in the borough will have no present to open on Christmas morning this year.

"Hopefully we’ve gone some way to changing that, and so we also say thanks to Clark’s Archive Services who delivered the presents for us."

He added: “As a firm, we remain committed to doing our bit to support our local community. Receiving Christmas presents is something that many of us take for granted, but unfortunately there are still many families who will not be able to afford presents for their children, so we hope that these donations will put smiles on the faces of children who otherwise wouldn’t receive anything.”

The 2013 Operation Santa appeal reached over 5,430 children and provided not only toys, gifts and Christmas food, but also parties at local voluntary and community groups thanks to money that was donated.

Dudley CVS also works in partnership with Black Country Foodbank and welcomes any food or clothing items that can be used to help make Christmas better for families who are struggling.