HAMPSHIRE police officers have donated more than 2,000 presents to children in the county.

Each year officers and staff from across the force area collect and donate the Christmas gifts for children.

And in the past five years, around 7,500 toys have been donated through the appeal, along with other items such as pantomime tickets, Christmas food hampers and Santa stockings.

Detective Chief Superintendent Scott Mackechnie said: “It is fantastic to see our police family come together like this every year, whether they are ensuring one child receives a gift or, as we see in many cases, providing something for a number of different children.

“So many people across Hampshire Constabulary, both staff and officers, volunteer their time to ensure the gifts are collected and then taken to our training headquarters at Netley.

“Each year we get such a phenomenal response to our appeal, and it is a pleasure to be able to hand over so many gifts.”

He and Julie Dennis, one of the force’s management assistants, welcomed Hampshire Police and Crime Commissioner Donna Jones to officially hand over the presents.