DONATIONS of new toys and books are still needed at the Herald as its second annual Christmas Toy Appeal gets under way.

Gifts will be donated equally between two local charities – Treloar School and College in Alton, which provides education and care to young people with physical disabilities, and Home-Start in Waverley, a charity that offers support to families who have at least one child under the age of five.

Readers are being encouraged to donate a new toy or book for youngsters aged nought to three, four to seven, eight to 12 and 13 to 16 years old.

Organisers Mandy Tegg and Sarah Wigg decided to start the appeal when they found “more children are in poverty” so thought it would be “nice to give a bit to them”.

“We live in an affluent area, but it happens on our doorstep,” the pair added.

They decided to focus on supporting children’s charities after agreeing “a lot” was being done for charities that support the elderly, such as the Surrey and Hants News Christmas Box Project 2018. Donated shoeboxes are filled with gifts for older people.

The Herald’s first Christmas Toy Appeal last year proved a huge success, with a mountain of toys donated to less-fortunate children.

Donations for this year’s Christmas Toy Appeal must be delivered by Monday and can be dropped off at the Herald offices in Farnham, Alton and Bordon