EVERY Islander over the age of 70 will again receive an early £100 Christmas gift from property developer David Kirch.

It will be the third year in succession that the multi-millionaire philanthropist will hand out about £1 million in shopping vouchers to the Island’s elderly residents. Mr Kirch, who is president of the Age Concern charity, said that it had been a difficult year for him from a business perspective but that he had decided to continue his annual gift.

The news has been hailed as ‘even more welcome’ than in the last couple of years by the chairman of Age Concern, Daphne Minihane. ‘With the rising food and fuel prices, this is fantastic news,’ said Mrs Minihane. ‘Pensioners may even be able to splash out a little on themselves this year. People forget that pensioners have children, grandchildren and even great-grandchildren to buy for at Christmas.’

Mrs Minihane added that she still cannot find out how much milk is going to increase to in stores from Monday after the announcement that Jersey Dairy was putting 5p on the wholesale price. ‘We have just been given notice of a big increase in coal and we have a bread price rise to follow later this month. Mr Kirch’s announcement could not have come at a better time for pensioners,’ she said.