Members of the Ladies Inner Wheel Club of Tenby gathered together around 550 shoeboxes which were full of Christmas 'goodies' to be delivered to under-privileged children around the world this week.

This is a practice that Inner Wheel members annually fulfil and have done for the past 26 years, since Operation Christmas Child - an initiative of the Chrsitian relief agency Samaritan's Purse - began in 1990.

The shoeboxes were collected on Monday from the home of Inner Wheel member Mrs. Carwen Harry and her husband John in Penally, to be transported to different parts of the world in time for Christmas.

"As well as contributions from Inner Wheel members, we've been collecting since October from local schools, churches, hospitals and businesses, from the Tenby, Saundersfoot, New Hedges, Manorbier and Penally areas," said Inner Wheel co-ordinator for Operation Christmas Child, Meryl Sharp.

"With times as they are, the generosity of everyone who has contributed is so well accepted and appreciated for this worthy cause, and we'd like to thank all who have so kindly helped again this year," she added.

See this week's Observer for more pictures of the Inner Wheel shoebox collections in the area.