ARMY Cadets from Otley have supported an appeal to help homeless people at Christmas.

The cadets put together shoe boxes filled with all kinds of useful gifts including gloves, hats, scarves, chocolates and soup sachets, for the Leeds-based appeal.

The Detachment Commander, Sergeant Major Instructor P Shaw, said: "It's important for the cadets to be involved in such a worthy cause as a huge proportion of people who are homeless are ex-forces.

"No one wants to see people suffer over Christmas and, in the spirit of Christmas, everyone should have a gift from someone.

"It lifts the spirits and let them know that somewhere, someone cares."

The Otley cadets meet at the Cadet Centre on Myers Croft, behind Sainsbury's, from 7pm to 9pm on Mondays and Thursdays.