STAFF and students at an Oxford college have been gathering Christmas shoeboxes for women and their families who are victims of domestic abuse.

Hertford College English tutor Dr Catherine Redford has been coordinating filling more than 50 boxes, which will now be donated to local women’s refuges, as part of Project Shoebox Oxford.

She said: “The college is one of a number of collection points across the city.

“Women who are victims of domestic abuse may have to leave home very quickly so we have been filling the boxes with supplies that can help them including toiletries and hairbrushes.

“Fellow students and staff have been collecting supplies and filling the boxes - it’s been a team effort and we will be collecting until Wednesday.”