The Barton Seagrave women who made sure families in need had presents to open this morning

Jo (left) and Emma (right) with the presents.

More than 100 children from families in need will be waking up to presents this morning thanks to the efforts of two Barton Seagrave women.

Work friends Emma Atkins and Jo Elmore only set up the Barton Toy and Christmas Bank at the start of the month, asking for donations of toys and Christmas items to give to local families who have struggled this year.

By December 13 they had received so many new and pre-loved gifts that they couldn't accept any more donations - and they've now delivered a total of 654 presents.

These kind-hearted children visited to drop off some presents.

They decided to help after hearing some schoolchildren had been told not to discuss what presents they were getting 'because some children would be having a different Christmas this year'.

Emma, 42, said: "We took it that it was because a lot of families couldn't afford it due to the pandemic.

"It got to December 3 and we decided to try and help.

"At that age how do you tell kids that Santa has visited some children and not other children?"

Not long after they started collecting donations Emma realised her dining room wasn't big enough to fit all of the items, and a Barton Seagrave family kindly offered their double garage as a space to store the presents.

Emma and Jo - who both work at Saica Pack in Thrapston who donated boxes - worked flat out alongside their day job, spending four or five hours each evening and nine hours a day at weekends sorting, organising, sanitising and delivering the presents to people across Barton Seagrave, Burton Latimer and Kettering.

Families in need had messaged them and the pair also provided 21 parcels for a local school to give to some parents.

And their hard work has helped 49 families, put presents under the tree for 133 children and given a little something to 68 parents.

Every child will get four presents, a mixture of new and pre-loved, as well as a selection box, biscuits and mince pies.

Emma thanked every family and business who donated and helped their cause - and said they're looking at doing it all over again next year.

She added: "I wake up and watch my kids on Christmas morning and they have so much fun.

"We couldn't bear the thought of other children being out there and not having the same happiness."