I WENT to church on Sunday – nothing too dramatic there.

However, I was at the toy service at Christ Church in Little Lever, there on behalf of Fortalice.

The caring congregation were giving gifts to help the women, children and young people who will spend their Christmas in Bolton’s refuge. While safe from the domestic violence that has blighted their lives, they’re also away from home and everything familiar.

The attitude of the church members, however, would warm anyone’s heart. They were kind and generous, encouraging their children to be the same, buying new gifts or donating much-loved toys.

It resulted in gifts for the refuge residents, and a genuine feeling of goodwill for me. The media tends to focus on the bad things and ignore the day to day goodness that people like this offer to all, but it’s nice to be reminded about the practical, caring decency around.