Christmas came early for hundreds of inner-city children as a church threw open its doors.

A fleet of buses brought more than 650 youngsters from some of Bradford's most deprived estates to a special event at the city's Abundant Life Centre yesterday. Minibuses made several trips to Buttershaw, Fagley, Little Horton and other areas to bring children and parents to two services at the Wapping Road church.

Donations of more than £6,000 from members of the congregation bought Christmas presents for the youngsters.

Charlotte Gambill, who helped organise the event, said: "This is the first of what we hope will become an annual event. We collected enough money to make sure the gifts were all good quality. They are worth abut £10 each. Next year we want to have at least 1,500 presents and eventually we aim to build it up to 10,000.''

Among those making their first trip to the church was forklift driver Anthony Stilgoe, of Buttershaw, who brought three of his four sons - Sean, eight, Adam, seven, and Ryan, four.

"They have all really enjoyed it. It's a good idea because it keeps them off the streets, especially in winter," he said.

"I wouldn't have really gone to a normal church with them because it seems like a bit of a drag and everybody is always shushing them, but it's not like that here."

Sharon Carver, of Canterbury, was also making her first visit with eight-year-old son Damian Bolton and her friend Margo Argueso, of Little Horton, and six-year-old Sohel. "When I said we were going to church, Damian said 'Oh no!' but he didn't even realise this was a church when we got here.''

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