VILLAGERS on Exmoor have been responding to a charity’s annual Christmas gifts appeal to help make the festive season happier for West Somerset families facing difficult times.

The presents can be left in Wootton Courtenay Villagers’ Stores, where Home-Start West Somerset will collect them on December 15.

Home-Start West Somerset gives support, friendship, and practical help to families with children under five years old across an area stretching from Minehead to Watchet and from Porlock to Dulverton, and to Nether Stowey and Cannington and surrounding communities.

Sarah Fox and Mark Burgess, who run the Villagers’ Stores, said: “Over recent years, the kind villagers of Wootton Courtenay have shown great generosity through donating Christmas presents to Home-Start West Somerset.

“Once again, the Villagers’ Stores is delighted to support Home-Start and be the collection point for gifts.

“Please drop off presents by Monday December 15.

“One-in-four children under five in the UK has a difficult start in life, because their families are under pressure.

“Yet, every child deserves the best possible start, to be loved, to play, to learn, and to grow in confidence.

“Home-Start West Somerset provides friendship and practical support to parents with young children in our local community.

“Please note that Home-Start would prefer presents to be unwrapped, to make it easier to match presents to individual children.

“If you would prefer to wrap presents yourselves, please attach a tag suggesting the appropriate gender and age range for the gift.”

Home-Start manager Clare Pound said: “The families we support mainly range in age from babies to five years, so it would be great to receive a mix of gifts suitable for these ages.

“Perhaps leave unwrapped so we can easily match each present to a suitable child, we are happy to wrap ourselves.

“Please can I take this opportunity to thank you for your continued support.”