Bereaved children will be given special gifts at a hospice which cares for the dying.

And hard-up families need not go into debt to pay for Christmas gifts for their children.

They are among more than 30 groups which will benefit from this year's Bradford Cares at Christmas project.

Companies and organisations throughout the district have pledged to donate gifts ranging from toiletries to toys and others are making up food hampers.

Business in the Community, which is spearheading the campaign, aims to top last year's 4,481 gifts which were donated.

Fourteen companies took part and 45 community groups benefited. The value of the gifts was in the region of £12,500.

This year 12 organisations have agreed to participate ranging from a building society to a care trust and their staff are busy donating gifts.

They will go to places like North-East Windhill Community Association where between 60 and 100 youngsters from cash-strapped families will receive Christmas gifts.

Goodie bags will go to bereaved youngsters at a Christmas party held by Huddersfield's Kirkwood Hospice.

A party is also being organised by Bradford Cancer Support for the children of parents or family members suffering from cancer.

Young people aged between 16 and 25 who get support from Bradford Nightstop, which provides free accommodation, will also benefit.

It has 12 host homes throughout the district, but just one in Keighley and project co-ordinator Bev Johnson, is appealing for more donors to come forward in that area.

"We need more host volunteers. Each night we have to turn some young people away because we haven't anywhere to place them."

Parties are also to be held including a lunch-time reception for all the groups hosted by Bradford District Care Trust on Wednesday, December 14. The trust is also to hold a party for the Gingerbread Housing Project and Hollins Hall Hotel at Baildon is hosting a get-together.

A spokesman for Business In the Community said the Cares project was an opportunity for business to show their caring commitment to needy groups.

He said it aimed to change the face of volunteering by linking the private sector and community organisations.