Quick-snipping, fast-folding volunteers raised almost £9,000 for a Harrow hospice when they wrapped presents for shoppers before Christmas.

The group of 90 volunteers wrapped gifts, sang carols and collected money at St Ann’s and St George’s shopping centres in Harrow in the two weeks before Christmas.

They scissored through 2,400m of wrapping paper and 1,920m of ribbon over 13 days to raise £8,800 for the hospice, which cares for people with life-limiting illnesses.

The youngest wrapper was five-year-old Aaron Sohanpal, and the team was bolstered by staff from RBS, Natwest and young volunteers from the Challenge Network.

St Ann’s shopping centre manager Jeff Jackson said: “We were pleased to welcome St Luke’s back again for the Christmas gift wrapping service as our charity of the year. It not only adds a great service for our shoppers but it raises such a huge amount for the charity and we would like to thank everyone that gave so generously this year.”