Nearly 500 gifts for local people donated by London Bridge businesses

Team London Bridge asked employees in the London Bridge Business Improvement District (BID) area to spread a little extra love and happiness over the festive period by buying an extra present when out Christmas shopping.

The business community showed huge generosity and nearly 500 presents were collected, ranging from tins of biscuits and woolly hats to designer beauty products and jewellery.

A group of volunteers from Team London Bridge, Chubb, Red Bull (who have just moved into Tooley Street), Southwark Council, St Martin's Property Group and First Rand took part in a marathon gift wrapping session at the headquarters of Chubb Insurance in the Cottons Centre.

"On behalf of Team London Bridge and the charities, I would like to say a massive thank you to everyone who donated a gift to the Community Christmas campaign and to all our volunteer wrappers who worked so hard," said Georgina Dawkins.

"We have been really touched by the generosity of spirit of you all and we know your gifts will make a huge difference to many people this Christmas.

"A special thank you must go to Nicola Numa at Chubb for the room and all her work ferrying people backwards and forwards and thank you to Red Bull for supplying some much needed energy!"

The gifts will be received by local people who may not have family or friends to be able to share the joy of receiving presents at Christmas. They will be distributed by Bede House, Blackfriars Settlement, Metropolitan Support Trust, the Manna Society and Barnado's.

Neighbouring BID Better Bankside has operated a similar Christmas gift scheme for several years.