RESIDENTS in Tilbury and Chadwell St Mary are set for a Christmas boost thanks to the efforts of the local Gateway Learning Community.

The education trust, which runs a number of local primary schools as well as Gateway Academy has come together and aims to raise £5,000 to support deprived families through the festive period through food and gift parcels.

The target has been boosted by a gift of £1,000 from the Port of Tilbury and a further has already been £1,500 donated directly.

Events are being held in the schools and a Just Giving page has been set up. It's current total is £1,635 making a total to date of £4,135.

Organisers are hoping for a final surge towards their target.

Gateway learning Community CEO Kevin Sadler says: "We are really grateful for all the support we had had to date, particularly from the Port of Tilbury who have once again been magnificent in the ir support of our local community.

"We are aware that there has been an increase in unemployment within the area and many of our families have been affected by this.

"The GLC would like to support those less fortunate than ourselves in the hope that they can have as good a Christmas as possible."

Last month staff and students at the Gateway academy collected a huge amount of food which it passed on to Thurrock Foodbank. See story here.