THE man behind the Christmas shoebox campaign is launching an appeal to brighten up Eastern European children's summer holidays.

Bob James, who co-ordinates the Operation Christmas Child appeal for Worcestershire and the neighbouring counties on behalf of the Samaritan's Purse charity, wants to raise cash to send sick or under-privileged children on holiday for two weeks to Christian camps.

He is looking for people to organise fund-raising events to help with the charity's plan to send 30 Moscow orphans to holiday camps in eastern Russia and two groups from Chernobyl to Hungary. Mr James, who comes from Sedgeberrow, estimates that it will cost £60 to send one child to a camp for one week and money is also needed so that helpers can go with them.

Although there is no set national or local target for the total, Mr James needs to give his head office a rough figure by the end of this month so it can get an idea of how many children it can send on holiday.

"I hope readers' response will be good," he said. "All the money will go to the children."

This is the second year Samaritan's Purse has sent children on holiday and it plans to make it an annual event.

Mr James said: "There are not many adults left in Eastern Europe as all the men have been killed through fighting so the young boys have became the head of the family and are responsible in providing food and shelter for everyone.

"If anyone would like to help a forgotten child when we have so much and they have so little, even if it's just £5 it will make a difference in a child's life"

Anyone wanting to get involved can contact Mr James on 01386 881605 or 07980 187909.