A youth group in Reepham is hoping to give an extra sparkle to Christmas for older people in need in the town. The youngster in Xler8, run by Norfolk Fire Service, are appealing to local people and organisations to do donate items which will be put in hampers to be delivered at Christmas.

A youth group in Reepham is hoping to give an extra sparkle to Christmas for older people in need in the town.

The youngster in Xler8, run by Norfolk Fire Service, are appealing to local people and organisations to do donate items which will be put in hampers to be delivered at Christmas.

The group sees children in years 10 and 11 at high school spend three hours per week taking on projects outside school, from helping community projects to sailing.

In Reepham the group is led by Mark Keddie of the fire service.

He said: 'There is a lot in the news, especially about the price of fuel going up. Old people are going to be the coldest this winter because they just cannot afford to heat their houses.

'Some people go without to head their houses and keep themselves warm.

'If we can give them some of life's little luxuries they would have gone without it might make their Christmas more special.'

Items to go in the hampers will be collected and then put together by the young people to be distributed to people suggested by local organisations such as Age Concern.

Staple items like tea, coffee and sugar would be as welcome as treats like chocolates, biscuits, nice jams or even gloves and scarves.

There will be a collection point at Reepham Town Council's office in the police office in Market Place, Reepham, or tiems can be dropped in at the Times office in Dereham.