The Recorder has joined forces with Romford's Mercury Mall to launch its annual Christmas appeal.

The campaign has been helping people in need in Havering over Christmas for more than two decades.

In recent years, the campaign has been backing Havering Women's Aid, a charity that helps people escaping domestic violence.

It is doing so again this year, and the Recorder is partnering with the shopping centre in its appeal.

Havering Women's Aid supports two large women's refuges in Havering, which are made up of more than 30 flats for women and their children.

The Mercury's Christmas appeal works with the charity to provide each family - or individual - with a selection of Christmas gifts.

MORE NEWS: Mercury Mall, Romford Santa's grotto returns for 2024

These gifts range from household items to clothing to toys, depending on what the families have had to leave behind or need to move on.

Natalie Bays, deputy centre manager at The Mercury, said: "We’re so grateful to our generous shoppers and the wider community especially at this time of year, if you can support our appeal it would be very welcome."

The Mercury is accepting donations of unopened and new items as gifts.

This is to ensure that all of the presents sent are safe, but also to ensure that these families feel loved on the big day.

The shopping centre has organised a list and will get the gifts to the refuges via Havering Women's Aid workers.

There are a couple of ways to donate.

You can find an item on their 'Dream list' to purchase and send to the Mercury management suite by visiting dreamlist.com and searching for The Giving Tree For Women’s Aid Havering.

You can also order a gift to the Mercury for collection from Asda or The Entertainer and some of the other shops, and email info@themercurymall.co.uk with the collection time.

People can also hand in a gift to the helpdesk, to the security team or to the management office any time between 7am and 11pm, or donate via e-vouchers to info@themercurymall.co.uk.

The Mercury is accepting gifts for The Giving Tree until December 20.

Havering Women's Aid, which works in partnership with various external agencies, provides specialist assistance to victims of domestic abuse whether it be physical, emotional, sexual, financial or elder abuse.

It aims to make a difference with one gift for every family living in the Havering refuge centres to bring a sense of normality to Christmas for them while they are staying away from home.

The refuge centres are mixed apartments of both independent women escaping violence and single families too.

Every family has the right to feel safe at Christmas, and the aim of the appeal is to make them feel loved too.

Simon Murfitt, Romford Recorder senior editor, said: “I’m delighted the Recorder will be joining forces with the Mercury for this appeal.

"The women and families supported by Women's Aid are at a difficult moment in their lives.

"But if through the generosity of the people of Havering we can bring them a touch of normality and Christmas cheer then it will be well worth it."