THE number of children visiting a refuge over Christmas is expected to  rise this year and a Malmesbury charity is doing its part to help.

Help, Empowerment And Local Support, or HEALS, is collecting Christmas gifts to fill shoeboxes for these children to aid an appeal organised by Helping Victims of Domestic Violence.

Around 100 children will spend Christmas in a refuge in North Wiltshire and HVDV aim to fill at least that number of shoeboxes to make sure they all have something this Christmas.

Chairman of HEALS Malmesbury Gavin Grant said: “There tends to be a bit of a spike in the rates of domestic violence in the run up to Christmas time.

“We want to bring some of the joy that we have into the lives of children spending Christmas in a refuge. People can collect shoeboxes from our office on the high street and drop them off there as well.

“If people have got shoeboxes they don’t want and want to donate them we’d be happy to have them!”

To get involved pick up a shoebox from HEALS in Malmesbury at 44 High Street or fill your own with gifts suitable for children. When your box is full return it to HEALS and their team will give it to a north Wiltshire child in need this Christmas.

For more information and to see other drop off points visit http://hvdv.webs.com/christmas-appeal.