A TORFAEN woman is celebrating after bringing Christmas cheer to children in need for a quarter of a century.

Elaine Evans, 59, has organised a Santa Appeal in the borough – collecting presents for children and young people in social services who wouldn’t usually receive gifts during the festive season – since November1991.

She became involved in the scheme after seeing an advert in our sister paper, The Free Press, and this year, has wrapped more than 160 gifts for children and young people aged up to 21.

She starts collecting presents in January each year, asking friends and others to donate through the year.

At the end of November she wraps them up and hands them over to Torfaen’s social services team to be distributed.

Mrs Evans, of Pontypool, said: “I am very proud that I have kept going this long and hopefully I will be able to go on helping for a few more years yet.

“As long as people are willing to give and I know plenty to badger for gifts or money to help then it’s worthwhile for those in need.

“People have always been generous and it’s really thanks to all those people that I am able to do what I do.

“I get a lot of people asking if I charge to help others wrap presents but I don’t, I actually enjoy wrapping.”

The most presents Mrs Evans has ever collected and wrapped in one year was in 2012 - her 21st year doing it - when she wrapped a total of 227 presents.

Mrs Evans added: “I don’t do quite as many as a few years ago as I don’t know as many people, which is the way of the world. Back then I still knew many people from Blaenavon, which is where I grew up, and they would each give me three or four.”

Kirsty Jenkins, 28, has been the co-ordinator of the appeal at Torfaen Social Services for ten years and said: “It’s been really good and it’s always nice to see the support and generosity of from the general public towards those in need.

“If it wasn’t for people like Elaine then many young people wouldn’t have anything to open at Christmas.

“For the first time we have also been doing food hampers for people newly homed and the support is unbelievable.”

If you wish to get involved or donate to the Torfaen Santa Appeal, call 01633 647538 or 01633 647 539.