STAFF and patients at a Stanford-le-Hope dental surgery have extracted the maximum amount of Christmas spirit and delivered a festive treat to a local family in need.

This year the staff at Homesteads Dental Care decided not to do a Secret Santa for each other and instead decided to spend up to £20 each on food for the Thurrock Foodbank.

After contacting the Corringham-based charity they were allocated a family in need that they could gift all the food and toiletries too.

It has now been delivered - with some additional donations from the patients in the waiting room who saw what was happening.

A spokesperson for the surgery said: "We truly hope the family who receive our gifts has a wonderful Christmas. Hopefully we have eased the burden and lightened the load!

"Health and happiness to all."