Forty one dealerships from across the Ford Retail group have played a major part in bringing Christmas happiness disadvantaged children in Eastern Europe and Africa.

As part of the charity Samaritan’s Purse annual ‘Operation Christmas Child’ appeal, the dealerships acted as collection points for shoeboxes filled with small presents for sending to children in orphanages, hospitals and refugee camps in time for Christmas Day.

More than 9,000 gift-wrapped shoeboxes were collected by the dealerships from Dagenham Motors, Polar Ford, Brunel Ford and Heartlands Ford.

Simon Barrington, the charity’s executive director, said: “The help that businesses such as Ford Retail provide us is vital to the success of our Christmas appeal."