Charity renews its gift appeal

A children's charity in Leicestershire has said its appeal for toys is so far a success, despite financial problems.

Toys on the Table collects donations of new Christmas presents for hundreds of children in care homes.

The appeal has been under pressure this year as it has not been able to secure a corporate sponsor.

Organisers said they had been impressed and touched by the public's generosity but they emphasised they still needed more donations.

Christmas spirit

Toys on the Table distributes gifts using a system where carers and social workers submit referral forms requesting help.

Charity spokesman Terry Watts said: "At the moment with two weeks to go to Christmas, we have already got more than 1,500 referrals, so we need the toys desperately.

"We need things for the younger ones, we need things for the older ones.

"It makes such a difference, these are children who need these things, these are children who wouldn't otherwise get them."