STUDENTS from St Clere's Sixth Form in Stanford-le-Hope delivered a festive boost for local children today (Wednesday, 26 November).

The kind-hearted youngsters at St Clere's visited Thurrock Foodbank's warehouse in Corringham to deliver more than 100 Christmas treat-filled advent calendars which will be distributed by the charity across the borough.

Students at the sixth form, which has become something of an educational success story, growing in numbers from an original cohort of 38 students to more than 250, wanted to help youngsters in need and a group of them started to organise a collection of advent calendar donations.

Staff, students and parents across the college on Butts Lane, Stanford, brought in the timely treats – building on a project at easter when the St Clere's community donated Easter Eggs for youngsters in the local area.

They were delivered today – but that isn't the end of the Christmas good news.

St Clere's students have supported the Just Giving tree.

The students have also been supporting youngsters by accumulating presents via a 'Just Giving Tree'. The tree, hosted at Lakeside, carries a wish list of gifts from local deprived youngsters. To date, more than 100 presents have been presented by St Clere's students, wrapped and ready for Christmas Day joy.