Two travel agents in Cornwall are playing Secret Santa this year to give away gifts and food to those in need – and hope with a little help from the local community the joy can spread even further.

Behind the giveaway are husband and wife team Laurie and Jess Gardener, who own L&K Travel in Newquay.

They are on a mission in the run up to Christmas to help those who may not be able to afford presents for their children, a gift for their loved one, or food for themselves this festive season.

The couple have created a Secret Santa form online and also distributed cards around the town, which can additionally be picked up from L&K Travel on The Killacourt). The cards and form are to let L&K know what toy, food or gift a person would like for their loved ones this year, and the family-run travel agent will buy, wrap and deliver the items - all without branding so that the requester can address it from themselves.

Jess and Laurie said: “We know Christmas can be a really hard time for a lot of people and we want to help those in our community that need it most.

“We have donated over £200 worth of toys and we will be buying fresh food and Christmas dinner for as many of the families as we can, but the more we raise, the more families we can help!”

L&K Travel have created an Amazon wishlist at www.amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/ls/2Q48KF347R6K0 and a GoFundMe page at www.gofundme.com/f/lks-secret-santa to enable them to help as many people as they can.

Anyone in a position to be able to support the Secret Santa scheme can donate money or choose a gift to buy from the Amazon, to be distributed as part of the project.

The wishlist includes toys and sweets, as well as essential items such as baby wipes and pet food.

Explaining more about the project on the GoFundMe page, Jess and Laurie have written: “We want to help those who may not be able to afford toys for their children, a gift for a loved one or food for their family this Christmas.

“We are doing this off our own back but the response has been overwhelming. More people need help than we could have expected and we want to do everything possible to help as many in our community as we can - and that’s where you come in.

“Every single penny counts and we are hoping we can raise enough to help as many people as possible.

“This will be a completely anonymous service. We know Christmas can be a really hard time for a lot of people and we want to help those in our community that need it most.

“L&K Travel will in no way benefit from this gesture.”