​This year many Widnes families will have a happier Christmas thanks to the generosity and hard work of local volunteers and helpers, coordinated by Widnes Churches and Halton Borough Council.

More than 120 Christmas hampers for families – that include foodstuffs, household goods and gifts – were distributed across Widnes last week.

Contents of the hampers are thanks to donations from Widnes churches, Widnes Scouting, 1st Halton Scouts, Widnes Foodbank and the local community.

Halton Borough Council’s Executive Board Member for Health and Wellbeing, Cllr Marie Wright, said: “Staff who collected and delivered the hampers were delighted with them, and confident that they will make a huge difference to Christmas for a lot of families in Widnes.”

Big hearted volunteers from VINCI Construction Insurance Services Ltd, Widnes Churches and the Studio in Widnes helped with the mammoth task of packing all the hampers, and VINCI staff also helped with the distribution.

Requests for hampers came from Widnes Children’s Centres, Health workers, Halton Borough Council staff, Housing officers and Citizens Advice officers.

Widnes Children’s Centres contributed to the administration of the project, along with volunteers from the Churches. Thanks also go to Roy Jacks, who donated a removal van to transport the goods and finished hampers between centres.