A DIDCOT teenager played Mrs Claus to deliver 1,500 Christmas presents to vulnerable children and adults across the county.

Courtney Hughes, 16, delivered her first batch of presents to Helen and Douglas House children’s hospice, in Magdalen Road, East Oxford, yesterday.

The teenager, who started the donations in 2012 and is studying child care at Abingdon and Witney College, will continue up to Christmas Eve.

Presents have been donated from as far afield as the United States and is promoted by the youngster through Twitter and Facebook.

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She said: “Two years ago my great-grandmother was in hospital over Christmas and it was not nice knowing she was in there all on her own.

“This made me think about other people who are away from their loved ones at Christmas.

“I think personally it opens up a few people’s hearts for people who think they are not loved or cared for anymore.”

She will visit the neonatal intensive care unit at Oxford’s John Radcliffe Hospital on Monday.

Oxford Mail:

Courtney and dad Lee with Suzi Attree, fundraising officer at Helen & Douglas House.

Manager of charity Support for the Sick Newborn and their Parents, Julie Da Silva Moore, said: “A gift for each of the babies who have to remain in hospital over Christmas means so much to their families.

“We are all really proud of what Courtney has achieved.”

Deliveries will also take place at Didcot’s community hospital, Hanover Court retirement housing, The Meadows care home and Life Charity.

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