A popular Thorpe St Andrew pub is getting into the Christmas spirit early by urging punters to donate gifts to help children at a Norfolk charity this festive season.

The Rushcutters has joined forces with members of Thorpe St Andrew Parish Church to support children from the Benjamin Foundation, a Norfolk-based charity which helps families facing difficulties.

Gift donation boxes are now available at the Yarmouth Road pub, and children from the charity, aged between two and eight, will be able to collect the gifts when they visit the pub for its The First Day of Christmas celebration on Wednesday, December 1. Families can also visit the celebration between noon and 4pm.

The pub's general manager Trisha Murphy said: 'We feel that Christmas is about remembering those less fortunate than ourselves and we feel that some children often get forgotten about. So we wanted to hold this magical day to let the children from the Benjamin Foundation know that they're loved. As well as urging our guests to pick up a gift for those less fortunate when out buying their Christmas gifts, we are also asking people to fill in the 'buy a smile for a child' donation slips which we've left on the tables at the pub.

'However, no teddies can be accepted as some gifts will be taken to the leukaemia ward at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, which does not accept them.'

During the celebration, all children from the charity will receive a present, tuck into a traditional Christmas dinner and enjoy a magical day meeting Santa and playing party games.

The Evening News has been urging punters to return to pubs as part of our Love Your Local campaign.

To see more stories from the campaign, visit www.eveningnews24.co.uk/loveyourlocal.

What is your pub doing for Christmas? Call Evening News reporter David Bale on 01603 772427 or email david.bale2@archant.co.uk