MISSION Christmas motored into action at the weekend with a convoy of bikers.

The Cash for Kids festive campaign provides gifts for local disadvantaged children.

Last year the Tweedbank-based charity delivered over 700 red sacks to deserving youngsters.

And this year they hope to deliver many more.

Cash for Kids manager Candy Rafferty told the Border Telegraph: “It’s a sad fact that this is the reality for many hundreds of our kids.

"Last year, 703 big red sacks were received by social workers, head teachers and health professionals here in the Borders, yet figures in from Save the Children reveal this is the tip of the iceberg, with over 14,000 children living in poverty here.

"We are so lucky to live in a place where this is matched by the kind hearts of the general public who donate gifts, money and time to the campaign.”

Cash for Kids Mission Christmas puts boxes out all over the region, asking local shoppers to remember a child who would otherwise wake up to nothing on Christmas morning.

For a second year in a row, McCreath Simpson and Prentice from Berwick has been the main sponsor of Mission Christmas, with Brown Brothers in Peebles and Belmont Selkirk also partnering the campaign.

Staff from the Bank of Scotland, Eildon Housing and dozens of individuals have volunteered to wrap gifts at the Transport Interchange in Galashiels, which has been loaned to the campaign by Scottish Borders Council.

Brown Brothers and Redpath Tyres are both collecting gifts from over 40 drop-off points across the region.

And on Saturday it was a specially painted Christmas van from Brown Brothers, along with a convoy of riders from the Borders Group of Advanced Motorcyclists, who took the first delivery of wrapped gifts from the Interchange to the Mission Christmas headquarters at Radio Borders.

Colin MacDonald from Brown Brothers said: "As a family business with over 30 staff, averaging two children each, we know how important Christmas is to families.

"We also appreciate that not everyone is as fortunate as ourselves. If we don’t look after our kids, there’s no future - it’s as simple as that."

Many other businesses and individuals are holding events to raise money to buy specialist gifts for children complex needs as well as teenagers and babies.

The Mission Christmas campaign will continue through to December 22, but a cut off for gift donations has been set at Friday, December 18.

Candy added: "If there is a company out there who would consider sponsoring the gifts for our teenagers, we would be able to get the lists completed much sooner.

"We do get a lot of toiletries donated which is lovely, but we need to add other things to their sacks.

"Imagine how wonderful it would be if we managed to attract a donation of tablets, or even gift vouchers, which would give these kids a rare opportunity to choose something for themselves.”

To donate to the Cash for Kids Mission Christmas appeal, text BORDERS to 70808 to donate £5.