THANK you - it's a simple phrase but one which is often overlooked.

But we at the Echo want to make sure all our readers know just how thankful we are to all those who supported us in this year's Toy Appeal.

We have been blown away by the generosity of our readers and just want to take the time to say thank you to each and every one of you who donated a toy.

Thanks to you thousands of children and teenagers will get to open up a present on Christmas day when they would have otherwise had nothing under the Christmas tree.

For the first time this year Natwest signed up as our partner and after placing collection bins in a dozen branches across Poole, Bournemouth and Christchurch for the last four weeks they have collected almost a thousand toys.

Mike Lomer, NatWest local CEO for Bournemouth, said: "We are overwhelmed by the generosity of customers and would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who contributed.

"The Toy Appeal has been such a great success and we will ensure that every toy goes to a disadvantaged or sick child within our communities.

"Every customer that has donated a toy will put a smile on a child's face this Christmas and for that we are truly grateful."

We also received a van full of toys from the Day Nursery Group - which runs Bournemouth Redhill Day Nursery, Ringwood Day Nursery and Verwood Day Nursery.

Nursery director Neil Dowden delivered hundreds of toys to the office in Richmond Hill last week after the centres held their Christmas fairs, making the cost of entrance one brand new toy.

Added to the hundreds of toys which were bought into the Echo offices by readers we have managed to collect more than 1,800 toys for disadvantaged children.

Daily Echo editor Andy Martin said: "Thank you so much to all our readers who have helped make this Toy Appeal the best one yet.

"We have been overwhelmed by people's generosity not just because of the amount of toys we have received but because of the quality of each and every donation.

"We must say a huge thank you to Natwest for signing up as our partner in this because without their help we never would have collected as many toys.

"So many children in this town are going to wake up on Christmas day with a present they didn't think they would ever get and it is going to be wonderful for them."

Bournemouth Foodbank, social services, refuges and the Salvation Army have started collecting toys to ensure that everyone in need will have a present this Christmas.

And tots in hospital over the festive period will receive a toy through the Rainbow Fund, a charity set up in memory of eight-year-old Amelia-Grace Cooper.

Every year Amelia-Grace’s parents Chantel and Karl take gifts to the children’s ward at Poole Hospital on Christmas Day.