ANDOVER AgeUK has been presented with 65 bags brimming over with the essential foods of Christmas sponsored by Stannah, Waitrose and The Rotary Club.

With the cost of living rising Stannah gave their annual sponsorship of AgeUK Christmas goody bags for vulnerable elderly residents of Andover district a 25 per cent rise to bring their contribution to £1,000.

Andover AgeUK’s Valerie Partridge co-ordinated as volunteers from all the sponsors and AgeUK officers gathered to pack the seasonal gifts.

Andover Age UK’s chief officer, Noel O’Dowd said: “We are most grateful to the sponsors for their support year on year.

“This year the increased contribution from Stannah has enabled us to retain some luxury items that, frankly, we would have been unable to sustain this year.

“The bags were full to the brim and it’s the perfect way to say we care to some very special residents of the Andover district.”

The parcels were sent on their way by the Mayor of Test Valley, Councillor Janet Whiteley, together with the president of the Andover Rotary Club, Mrs Pamela Woolgrove, chairman of Andover AgeUK, Dr Diana Newell OBE, vice-chairman of the Andover Charities Trust, Malcolm Lloyd, vice-chairman of Andover AgeUK, Clive Bagwell and AgeUK trustee, Steve Epsom.

Volunteers from Stannah in Watt Close transferred all the goodie bags to their company vans and were given time-out to deliver all the parcels to individual addresses in and around Andover.