A CREDITON woman has sent off her final batch for the year of filled shoeboxes to children in Moldova and Ukraine.

Margaret Tucker, 88, prepared and sent more than 82 shoeboxes of items, bags of clothing and handmade knitted items in September and has now sent 73 more.

Margaret is helped by her partner Derek Shapland and eight of the boxes were filled by Cheriton Fitzpaine Brownies, care of Brenda Fowler.

They are sent via the charity Christian Response (CR2EE).

Mrs Tucker has been sending shoeboxes to Eastern Europe ever since Hugh Scudder of CR2EE gave a talk at Sandford Women’s Institute around three decades ago.

"I took a couple of boxes down for him at the time, and I think WI members did a couple of boxes, and it's just grown and grown,” she said.

"I start collecting in January, and non-perishable stuff through the year when we go shopping.

Some of the filled boxes on their way to Exmouth for Moldova and Ukraine. AQ 7082
Some of the filled boxes on their way to Exmouth for Moldova and Ukraine. AQ 7082 (Alan Quick, Crediton Courier)

"Each one has a notebook, pens, crayons and pencils, colouring books, sweets and chocolate, toys, metal cars for little boys.

"People are very generous with giving me things as well."

She also expressed her thanks to those who knitted hats and gloves and donated other useful items such as toiletries and shoes.

Eight bags of clothing, donations and blankets were also sent with the latest consignment.

They were delivered to the CR2EE depot at Exmouth by Biffo Holland and Jan Holland with Poppy (4).