KINDHEARTED youngsters from the 1st Cove and Kilcreggan Brownies have sent Christmas gifts to Iraq to spread some festive cheer.

The youngsters appealed for donations from their local community and with their support managed to fill 40 shoe boxes to send away.

The B&M store contributed to their efforts by allowing them to go on a £25 shopping spree in store to grab some essentials.

On Wednesday at their meeting the members filled the boxes, each for two people in pairs, with packet foods like pasta, shower gel and lip balm. They also added some festive goodies to the boxes including sweets, festive head boppers, crackers and Christmas cards.

Nicola Milne, who has only recently taken over as Brownie leader, was delighted with the girls efforts.

She said: "It all went really well and we managed to fill 40 boxes. We were aiming for around 36 so to reach 40 was great.

"They all loved putting the boxes together. We sat all the items we had out and got them all to work in pairs to pick a box and fill it with things they would want.

"One box was for two soldiers so the girls working together worked well."

Parents helped to add the labels to the boxes and leader Nicola took them to the post office.

Eight of the boxes were to heavy to send but determined to send them Nicola said that she would split the boxes up and create more to ensure they were sent away.

The brownies thanked everyone in the local communities who donated towards their shoe box appeal and also thanked B&M for their support.

Nicola extended her thanks to all the Brownies for working so hard and so well together to get the boxes ready to be sent.

She said: "I am delighted with all their efforts and delighted that we managed to send so many boxes to soldiers to spread some Christmas cheer."

Brownie Breagha Higgins, 8, who was named Brownie of the year was also thanked for her efforts in ensuring it all went well.

Nicola said: "The Brownie of the year award goes to the Brownie who has shone the most that year, the one who has gone over and above and Breagha has done that, she has been outstanding and I am so proud of her."