THE success of the Santa Benarty venture is yet another story of the four villages' community coming together to back a very good cause.

This is the third year of the appeal, which has seen upwards of 2,000 gifts donated and has ensured that children did not wake up on Christmas morning without a present to open.

Santa Benarty started as a bit of fun but that first year, in 2016, soon gathered so much pace that they almost had too many gifts!

With the assistance of Fife Council the volunteers have gone a long way to trying to ensure that no child in the Benarty area, and beyond, does not get at least one present to open.

The support that good causes get from the Benarty public is phenomenal.

The story of Marguerite Henderson, the Sepsis sufferer who was given fantastic backing by the community of Benarty and Cowdenbeath-Lochgelly wide, showed how the support is there for people who badly need it.

2019 will no doubt throw up more situations that mobilise the sort of backing Santa Benarty and Marguerite received and the same level of support will be forthcoming.

This sort of community togetherness approach hails from the days when coal was king and long may it continue.