Children home alone at Christmas

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The girls, who were all under the age of 10, were discovered by police home alone in Gorton, Manchester.

Their plight sparked a wave of sympathy among police staff and officers, who clubbed together to buy them Christmas presents.

Call handlers who learned that the girls had no presents or a Christmas tree in their home had a "whipround" and made a last-minute mercy dash to buy gifts before the shops shut on Christmas Eve.

Pam Wild, 50, a call handler for Greater Manchester Police, said: "I just couldn't bear the thought of the children waking up on Christmas morning with no presents, so me and some of the girls had a whipround and got them some gifts."

Officers also donated money, which was used to buy clothes and toys for the girls.

Mrs Wild wrapped the presents on Christmas Eve and they were delivered to the girls on Christmas Day at the address where they have been re-homed.

She said: "It was just something that anybody would have done. I love children and it wasn't their fault that they didn't get any presents. I just couldn't wake up on Christmas Day knowing that these girls weren't going to get anything."

Her boss Andrew Massey said: "Our staff have gone out of their way to try and make it feel like Christmas for some children and it is nice to see this kind of spirit still exists in this time."

A police spokeswoman said: "Police were called to an address in Gorton on Christmas Eve following concerns for three children. A 29-year-old woman who was arrested for neglect has been bailed until February 11."