THE plight of thousands of Afghans forced to endure further hardship in their war-torn homeland prompted a massive response to a plea for help by a Wyre Forest charity.

Jubilant organisers of the Wyre Forest area Operation Christmas Child appeal have been overwhelmed by donations which enabled them to double the number of shoeboxes sent compared with the previous year.

Under the scheme, schools and other groups are asked to donate shoeboxes filled with items such as toys and sweets which are then sent to needy children in more than 70 countries across the world affected by war, poverty, illness or natural disasters .

Area co-ordinator Julia Pittaway said Wyre Forest had sent a staggering 47,553 boxes of festive cheer to needy children in the Czech Republic, as well as Macedonia and Romania.

She told the Shuttle/Times and News: "It's been an absolutely incredible response. We sent 22,500 in 2000 so we've more than doubled that this time. We're delighted."

The last of the Yuletide parcels were despatched on December 20 and the appeal, organised by Mrs Pittaway for the last 10 years, will resume later this year.

Mrs Pittaway said the recent campaign, which highlighted the plight of people in Afghanistan, had been boosted by the backing of GMTV for the national campaign as well as a growing profile.

In 2000, the area appeal delivered boxes needy children in the Crimea while other previous recipients have included youngsters in Bosnia and Serbia, Russia and Romania.

Hundreds of leaflets were handed out at the Shuttle/Times and News office in Kidderminster which backed the appeal and which collected boxes containing simple gifts such as toiletries, chocolates and school supplies.

Mrs Pittaway said although the national campaign concentrated on the hardship faced by Afghan people following the launch of the West's bombing campaign, aid collected in Wyre Forest had been dispatched to children elsewhere.

This decision was taken at a national level based on transport availability and where aid was most needed.