A charity which sends gifts to underprivileged children across Europe has said stereotype media images do not accurately represent the depth of poverty overseas.

Wrexham-based Operation Christmas Child (OCC) has been sending presents to Eastern Europe for 12 years.

For the children to be given something for themselves, which belongs to them and them alone, is amazing Ruth Jones, Operation Christmas Child

But the organisation has received criticism about the people it helps.

"What a lot of people don't realise is that poverty doesn't mean just being barefoot on the street," said charity spokeswoman Ruth Jones.

"We do get criticised sometimes because, when the pictures come back, the children look well-dressed or they look as though they have money.

"People don't realise that there is no end of food and aid that gets out to these children, but that doesn't take the trauma away from their lives.

"Poverty is not about dressing in rags anymore - it's a lot more - because of the traumas of war and some of the terrible things that children have seen.

"There is also the problem of Aids which is decimating lives," she said.

Shoebox vision

OCC was formed in 1990 by Chester businessman Dave Cooke.

He had a vision to send shoeboxes filled with Christmas presents from local people to children living in deprived countries.

There are millions of shoeboxes to distribute

The first time the lorries left Wrexham, they had 3,000 shoeboxes on board - last year they had 1.25 million.

This year, the presents will be distributed throughout eastern Europe and Russia.

Ruth Jones said she was touched by the response from children when she helped deliver shoeboxes in 2001.

"I went to Crimea in Ukraine, and we went to a lot of state-run orphanages which are pretty dire - the infrastructure of them and the buildings are awful.

"The bedding and mattresses are not good, but the staff are really loving to the children.

Ruth Jones: The children are grateful

"What they haven't got though, is anything to give them

"Anything the children have, they have to share with their dormitory.

"For the children to be given something for themselves, which belongs to them and them alone, is amazing," she said.

Volunteers are currently helping to sort out the shoeboxes at the charity's warehouse on the outskirts of Wrexham.

Around 60 trucks and the world's biggest transport plane - the Antinov 124 - will transport the gifts to the 12 countries

The plane will leave Dublin bound for Georgia on 16 December.