An annual Christmas appeal based in Darlington is now open for donations of gifts for children in need.

The Silent Santa Appeal has been running for several years and, thanks to the generosity of so many people, has continued to go from strength to strength.

The number of donated gifts has increased from 284 in the first Christmas to an amazing 552 - plus scores of loose presents - in 2023 and Santa hoping that this increase continues with the 2024 appeal.

The appeal is based on giving gifts in a Christmas wrapped shoebox or a gift bag to a local child who the donor will not meet.

The identity of Silent Santa is a closely guarded secret, but a spokesperson for the appeal said: "You will not receive a ’thank you', and you will not be there to see a smile of delight when the child opens your gift, but we know you will feel that sense of contentment knowing that you have contributed to the happiness of a child at this most important time of the year."

The Silent Santa Appeal is run by a small team with no expenses or overhead costs as the time given by Santa’s helpers, delivery costs and a storage room used until Santa arrives to deliver the presents are all free.

The spokesperson added: "The choice of gift for a girl or boy is down to the donor– simply buy what you think would make a child 4-5, or 6-7, or 8-9 or 10-11 years old happy put them in a Christmas carrier bag or a shoebox."

To donate, email Santa’s helpers at Gerald.lee@darlington.gov.uk or phone 07876-216182 and someone with either pick your gift up from you or you can deliver yourselves to Santa’s storeroom.

The spokesperson said: "Please label your present with ‘boy,’ ‘girl’ or ‘either' and the age of the child and it will be whisked away like magic into the hands of a local little person who will be overjoyed in receiving it, but please do not include nuts or anything that contains glass – thank you.

"Ideally Santa would like the gifts to be delivered by the first week of December to give him time to organise his deliveries."