Schoolchildren of all ages have spent the last few weeks collecting food items and designing life-size parcels. 

Every year, staff and pupils from years 7 to 11 at Highams Park School in Handsworth Avenue, design around 40 parcels which are donated to a local charity. 

The parcels shaped in all different sizes from a jack-in-the-box to a Christmas tree, were donated to Branches day centre and night shelter in Forest Road, Walthamstow, yesterday. 

Contents include food, toiletries and clothes which will help the charity get through the next 12 months.