SHE may have had an early finish on TV show The Apprentice but contestant Michelle Niziol has made an early start to the festive season with the Christmas Shoebox Appeal.

The 35-year-old from Bicester has ploughed ahead with work outside TV stardom at her own property consultancy IMS Property Group.

Stepping away from her time as project manager on the BBC programme Ms Niziol is now leading her team in the national Christmas shoebox appeal to give to those less fortunate during the festive period.

She said: "Christmas is a time for giving and we want to show the children that we care through this very worthy cause.

"We wish we could see their smiley faces when they open their shoeboxes and we will definitely be taking part again next year."

The company director urged her team to get involved in the cause to show support for the Samaritan's Purse Operation Christmas Appeal.

The firm filled a host of shoeboxes with toys such as model cars, teddy bears and skipping ropes to be sent abroad from Christmas.

The charity appeal is the world's largest Christmas project which in the past 26 years has given more than 120 million disadvantaged children a gift to open at Christmas.

The company's donation to the cause follows Bicester first big push for the appeal from volunteers at Bicester Methodist Church on Saturday, October 29.

Volunteers, including a special appearance from Santa, managed to wrap more than 290 boxes ready to be stored in Thame before being shipped overseas.

To join the appeal look for projects within Bicester at samaritans-purse.org.uk