MORE than 45 city and county schools have pledged support for a campaign similar to one that helped to feed hundreds of people at Christmastime last year.

Forty-seven infant, junior and primary schools will spend the next month collecting tins and packets of food for the Derby Lions Club's Christmas appeal.

The campaign, which is being supported by the Evening Telegraph, invites schoolchildren to donate food and drink to people in need.

Each primary and junior school that volunteers to take part in the campaign will be given a collection box.

Pupils, staff and parents will fill the boxes throughout November and then they will be collected by Derby Lions in the first week of December.

Alison Craig, head teacher of Portway Junior School, Allestree, said the campaign had become a tradition.

She said: "We've been involved with it for several years now and it always goes very well.

"The children and parents really get into the swing of the appeal and send in a lot of good produce.

"It also encourages children to think of others at Christmas."

Items collected are sorted into food parcels and distributed to local charities, organisations and individuals over the Christmas period.

This year, it will benefit good causes such as the Guinness Trust Housing Association, Rebecca Court Women's Refuge and Jericho House, a project that helps people suffering from drug addiction.

More than 400 people received parcels as a result of last year's appeal when more than 60 schools took part.

Ann Cruickshank, the head teacher of Arboretum Primary School, in Derby, said: "It's important to us to get involved with the community wherever we can and this is a great way to do this.

"Families are always very generous and this is something we enjoy doing every year."

Chris Watkins, head teacher at Duffield Meadows Primary School, said: "The way the Derby Lions organise the appeal is great and makes it so easy for schoolchildren to get involved.

"Children can bring in as much as they want to and see that their efforts can make a difference."

Members of the Derby Lions have been organising Christmas collections for more than 20 years and, nine years ago, the group first decided to invite schools to take part.

Club member Brian Burke, who co-ordinates the project each year, said: "The schools are proving very responsive to the invitations and it's great they want to get involved.

"We hope around 60 schools will get on board this year and we're well on our way to meeting that target."

Derby Lions will continue to contact schools this week to invite them to get involved with the appeal.

For more information about the collection, or to get involved, call Mr Burke on Derby 573334 or e-mail bribal@tiscali. co.uk.