Smisby Day Nursery has had to do things a little differently this year - but despite not being able to run their annual Christingle service which has been around for 15 years, and is held at Holy Trinity in aid of The Children's Society, it has been able to support more local charities. 

In November, the Nursery raised a record amount of over £280 for Children In Need by raffling off three hampers made up of donations from staff members. 

It also ran a campaign to collect food items for Ashby Foodbank and collected a Smiz Bus full of Food items and luxury Christmas items for local families. 

This month, the Nursery has been collecting gifts for Derek's Tree based in Burton upon Trent which, every year, collects presents for disadvantaged children in the local community. 

Smisby Day Nursery, its staff, children and families, has collected gifts worth over £1,500 and delivered them in time to be distributed to children and young people. 

The Nursery says it has been overwhelmed by the support from their families at this time and would like to thank them for their continued support.

Sheila Higginbotham-Murphy, from Smisby Day Nursery, said: "We are very proud of everyone who has been involved and would love our wider community to know about it.

"We usually have a grandparents' Christmas Lunch and a Christingle service which we hold at Holy Trinity in Ashby with all proceeds going to The Children's Society, but unfortunately we were unable to hold these gatherings this year so concentrated on other local causes."

Smisby Day Nursery has emphasised it serves the Ashby community but can often get overlooked as it is on the edge of the town.