CHILDREN at a Portishead nursery have been practising the art of giving by way of a reverse advent.

The Nursery in Combe Road has teamed up with the Food Bank at Gordano Valley Church and has been donating non-perishable food and useful items like nappies throughout December.

Nursery manager, Natalie Collins, said: "The festive season presents a great opportunity to discuss the real meaning of Christmas and help children to think of others. When they open their advent calendar each day in December they take something out, well we have been talking to the children about giving and giving something each day instead.”

Jackie Hardie, who owns The Nursery, said: “Empathy is really hard for young children to grasp but there are things we can do, particularly at this time of year, to encourage children to give something back and supporting the foodbank is one of these things."