HUNDREDS of elderly people in Northumberland could have their Christmases brightened up thanks to generous donations and the efforts of a Prudhoe woman.

Tina Katsighiras is organising a Christmas gift collection for Age UK Northumberland, through her workplace at Avis Car Hire.

She said the idea was sparked after they chose Age UK Northumberland as their charity for last year, managing to collect 154 gifts for vulnerable elderly people.

“We decided to to it again,” she explained. “I just don’t want people going without who maybe don’t have family or friends or live remotely.”

The gifts will delivered to older people who access Age UK Northumberland’s services at their Christmas party, after Tina has dropped their gifts off at the charity’s headquarters in Ashington, with the help of her colleagues.

Tina has already been travelling around the district to pick up donations from generous members of the public, and is hoping people will help them collect more by picking up an extra gift while they are Christmas shopping.

Gifts should be for males and females and examples include hats and scarves, chocolates or toiletry sets.

Tina added: “We saw the difference that it could make last year, and because it’s getting near Christmas again we don’t like the idea of people being lonely or going without.

“We are just trying to make as many people happy as possible and show them that people do care about them.

“I would absolutely love us to be able to take the van up to Ashington this year with more gifts than we had last year.”

People can drop their gifts in to the branch on George Street, Newcastle, or contact Tina via Facebook or email to ask her to pick them up on: Tina.Katsighiras@abg.com