PRESENT givers are celebrating a record year after they helped to hand out thousands of gifts to those in need.

The annual Sleigh2Give campaign, organised by Didcot fundraisers Play2Give, has held its biggest ever present drive with up to 6,000 items handed out, and still more to come.

All the gifts were loaded into the back of a Go Green Taxi last weekend and driven to the children's hospital in Headington.

Volunteers then spread out across three of the wards to bring some seasonal cheer to those facing Christmas in the hospital.

Organiser Andy Baker said: "It was another very special and also emotional day.

"We visited three of the six wards, as well as children's high dependency unit and paediatric day unit.

"We've also got gifts for the special care baby unit and Horton Hospital children's ward as well."

Mr Baker said that one boy, who had been on Melanie's ward for a month, was over the moon when he was given a Star Wars Lego set.

His mum told him that it will really help to build him up as he recovers from a brain injury.

Mr Baker added: "It was our biggest ever Sleigh2Give drive and we estimate we received between 5-6,000 gifts this year but it could well be more.

"It's certainly more than ever - so a new record.

"Due to the overwhelming amount of presents received, we're also going to donate a portion of the gifts to the Be Free Young Carers charity in Didcot."

In the fourth year of the appeal, volunteers have far surpassed last year's total of 3,000 gifts.

Collection points were set up across Didcot and in Oxford for people wishing to leave gifts to be given out at the hospital.

Special donation days were also held at Sainsbury's Didcot and Tesco Didcot - giving people an extra chance to donate to the appeal in person.

Mr Baker said he had wondered whether he would be able to better the success of previous years and admitted to being astonished at the response.

He added: "Every year I never think the amount or level or amazing generosity will increase but this year's amount of gifts is more so than ever before, which just shows how much people our local community really takes it to their hearts.

"To see the faces and smiles on the children, babies and teens we met was priceless."