Every looked-after child in Merton will have a merrier Christmas thanks to hundreds of generous gift donations organised by the council and Merton Police.

The Metropolitan Police Commissioner’s Christmas Tree Project 2017 has been inundated by presents of all shapes and sizes which will be delivered to those in need by council staff in time for Christmas.

Police officers, staff and resident volunteers spent many hours wrapping the 804 gifts donated by members of the public and businesses to the scheme, which saw donations flood in from all over the borough.

People were advised to spend no more than £10 on a gift, and were given an age and gender of a child to buy for. Gifts were then donated to either Mitcham or Wimbledon Police stations.

The presents were collected from the police and taken to the Civic Centre in Morden on Monday 18 December where they will be distributed by council staff to looked-after children as well as children in need of support in the wider Merton community over the Christmas period.

Merton’s cabinet member for children’s services, Councillor Katy Neep, said: “The response from the public has been overwhelming this year and will ensure that all our young people receive a present this Christmas. I am so very grateful to the police,  residents and businesses for their generosity.”

Children, schools and families director Yvette Stanley said: “We’d like to thank the Metropolitan Police, residents and businesses for their extraordinary generosity in supporting Merton children in need.”

Merton Police’s borough commander Steve Wallace said: “I am very proud and humbled to see how many of Merton’s residents and businesses have pledged gifts this year. We are very happy to be able to help vulnerable and deprived young people over the festive period.”