NEARLY £5,000 worth of presents were given to children in a charity effort.

Churchill Square in Brighton is thanking its generous shoppers for making last month’s Giving Tree appeal so successful.

There were 482 Christmas surprises donated to children throughout Brighton who are supported by the Rockinghorse charity.

Churchill Square boss Mark Buchanan-Smith was grateful to the community for backing the appeal. He said: “Brighton completely lived up to its kind-hearted reputation and we are absolutely delighted with the number of presents collected, which have gone on to make so many brilliant children happy.

“Rockinghorse does a phenomenal job in caring for little ones with serious health complications as well as supporting their families so this was also an opportunity to show our appreciation for all the hardworking team members there.

“Thank you everyone who took part in the Giving Tree appeal, we really couldn’t have done it without you.”

Rockinghorse is a Brighton-based charity that has been supporting sick and disadvantaged children, babies and adolescents in Sussex for more than 50 years.

The charity is best known as the official fundraising arm of the Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital. It is also supports the Trevor Mann Baby Unit at the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton and the Special Care Baby Unit at the Princess Royal Hospital in Haywards Heath.