SHIRE Pharmaceuticals in Chineham has shot up to fourth place in the list of the top 100 FTSE charity givers.

In the past year, Shire - which has buildings on the Hampshire International Business Park in Chineham - was recorded as giving a massive £2.8million.

Some of the company's gifts included flu vaccines for Argentina and Columbia and anti-cancer drugs for AmeriCare, a US non-profit organisation.

Now Shire staff in Chineham have started a campaign to support Basingstoke - especially its senior citizens.

Thanks to an idea by employees Adrienne Lyster and Karen Smith, the company has launched the Shire Christmas Present Appeal for Senior Citizens. It is being co-ordinated with local old people's homes.

The idea is simple and was put to Shire employees in an e-mail which said: "Christmas is coming and you may be getting excited, looking forward to giving and receiving gifts. We'd like you to stop and think what it would be like if you were old and alone - what would Christmas hold for you? Many old people dread Christmas. We'd like to do something about this."

And that something is for Shire employees to buy an extra present when they are Christmas shopping, wrap it in festive paper, state whether it's for a man or woman, and leave it at Santa's collecting points in Shire's reception areas.

They will also have sing-along Christmas lunches during December as Shire Sound - a band comprised of staff members - plays festive music.

Band members hope their "busking" will persuade diners to dig deep in their pockets to raise extra money for Shire's nominated Christmas charity, which is yet to be announced.