A KIND-HEARTED brother and sister are hoping to make Yuletide special for families struggling due to the pandemic by launching their second Christmas hamper appeal.

Daisy-Mae Page, 11, and brother Herbert, nine, who are pupils at Colne Engaine Primary School, are hoping to fill dozens of Christmas hampers with treats.

Last year, the pair managed to fill 17 hampers which were then donated to families struggling due to the pandemic.

The move was a success with the pair collecting toys, Christmas treats and food to make the special hampers for families in need.

The appeal started in the 2020 October half-term when Daisy-Mae began asking questions about the free school meals debate on the news.

She had learned about Marcus Rashford’s campaign for free school meals and started asking mum Mandy about what they were.

When she found out, she was determined to help families in the area.

She got her friends together who helped design a poster for the appeal.

Due to the success of the last campaign, Daisy-Mae and Herbert are now hoping to better last year’s efforts and put together even more hampers.

They are appealing for residents to donate items to help fill the baskets.

Items could include new tinsel, children’s books, cuddly toys, chocolates and sweet treats, puzzles, colouring books and toys.

The appeal is running until Friday, December 10 and donations can be left at Percival and Company in Earls Cole as well as Colne Engaine Primary School.

Daisy-Mae and Herbert have even been spending their own pocket money to get the ball rolling and start filling the hampers.

Daisy-Mae roped her brother into helping her with the campaign this year as this is her final year in primary school.

She hopes Herbert and his friends can take over the festive appeal when she moves on to secondary school.

Mandy said: “We’re really proud of her, she puts a lot of work into it.

"Obviously we help her by dropping some of the hampers off but she sends emails to the primary school and the local vicar herself to ask permission to put the campaign posters up.”

As well as helping struggling families the hampers also go to the women’s refuge and the foodbank.