STAFF at a west Dorset housing association donated dozens of Christmas presents to a local women's refuge.

The co-ordinators of the project at Magna Housing Association, Kirsty Hallett and Lucy Corben, handed over four boxes and several bags, full to the brim with toys for the children and treats for their mums.

Molly Rennie, chairman of the Domestic Abuse Welfare Committee, came to collect the gifts. She thanked the company for the donations.

She said: “People have no idea what a huge difference this will make to the families in the refuge.

“We regularly have people come to us with nothing more than the clothes they are standing in. They still want to make Christmas special for their children but it is really difficult for them."

She added: "People who have just moved into the refuge will still be trying to get their benefits sorted out, so they have no way of buying presents.

“It’s really great that Magna has handed these presents over this early so the mums know they have something to give their children on Christmas Day. There is something for everyone from the tiniest baby up to teenagers and even the mums themselves.”

“Thank you to everyone who donated gifts for the families in the refuge and in The Hamlet. Everyone staying in the properties will be happy to know there is support for them in the community.”

Ms Hallett was one of the Magna staff who organised the collection.

She said: “Everyone has been so amazingly generous, we’ve been really overwhelmed by people’s kindness.”

Fellow organiser Ms Corben, said: “This is a charity that is close to many people’s hearts and it is really important that these families aren’t forgotten at this time of the year.”

Last month, people came together to make a stand against domestic violence.

WAND (Women's Action Network Dorset) organised the Reclaim the Night event in Dorchester and said this year was another fantastic occasion.

WAND thanked the West Dorset Women' Refuge welfare committee, which generously donated prizes to help raise money to support victims of domestic violence.

The event raised a fantastic £702 pounds from the auction and tombola.

The funding raised has been split between the West Dorset Women's Refuge, the welfare committee and the Sexual Assault Referral Unit (SARC) in Bournemouth.

For more information about WAND, visit wandwomen.org.uk