Christmas spirit is alive and well in Clydesdale

However, it has issued a fresh call for more donations of toys - especially for teens - as well as Christmas treats for the hampers it will be sending to very needy families in Clydesdale.

In fact, it would warmly welcome more donations of almost anything at its two Carluke and one Lanark collecting centres - except soup!

“We’re up to our ears in soup - in a manner of speaking,” quipped the very upbeat New Beginnings convener Mary McLennan, in a good mood at the “tremendously fantastic” response so far to the Christmas Appeal which will be running until December 22.

On Monday night alone she accepted a £500 cheque, collected by the Kirkton Players at their performances of ‘The Steamie’.

She detailed a ‘shopping list’ of the items she would like handed in to New Beginnings’ bases at Unit 4, Hamilton Street, Carluke and 1 Kilmory Road as well as at The Bridge Church off Lanark’s Woodstock Road.

“We have received a lot of lovely toys for children up to ten years old but suitable presents for the early teens are in very short supply,

“We are also putting together family hampers for Christmas and New Years Day dinners. We can’t accept any fresh foods but tinned ones would be most welcome; tinned ham or meats of any sort, potatoes, any vegetables, desserts, custard, etc.

“We are actually desperately short of diluting juice this year, for some reason!

“We’d also welcome baked products like mince pies and shortbread. It would also be nice to put some wee treats into the hampers in the form of special snacks, chocolates, etc. Just think of what you’d like to find if you opened one of these hampers.”

The three collection centres detailed above are open 10am to noon every Monday to Friday.