SPREAD some festive joy this Christmas and donate to the Daily Echo’s annual Toy Appeal.

Collection bins have gone out and we are asking our readers to buy an extra present to ensure that no child goes without a present under the Christmas tree.

After one of our most successful appeals last year the Echo is once again working in partnership with NatWest to try and bring a little festive magic to sick and disadvantaged children.

We are also joining up with Amelia’s Rainbow Fund and the Trussell Trust to help support the foodbanks’ Christmas hamper appeal.

Mike Lomer, NatWest CEO for Bournemouth, said: “We are delighted to be supporting the toy appeal again this year.

“We were inundated with gifts last year and want to thank our customers for their generosity. We hope they will be just as big-hearted this year.” Bring in a toy to your local branch and our staff will be happy to take it and make sure it ends up in the hands of a very grateful child.”

Victims of domestic violence, young people in children’s homes and families receiving support from the social services will all benefit from the appeal.

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

The youngster died in 2010 following a battle with a rare form of childhood cancer called neuroblastoma.

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

Chantel said: “We are delighted to be working with the Bournemouth Echo again for this year’s toy appeal.

“We hope this year’s appeal will be the largest to date as we aim also to deliver toys to the families of the children we have supported over the last two years who remain at home over the festive period.

“This year local businesses 4com and Store and Secure have also come on board to support the charity with our appeal and hopefully we can can make a difference to a lot of families this Christmas.”

It will be the 20th year the Echo has run the initiative – which was single-handedly co-ordinated by Phil Carey until his death in 2014.

Gifts will be collected at the Daily Echo offices in Richmond Hill, Bournemouth, and our Swanage office in Commercial Road.

There will also be collection bins at NatWest branches in Bournemouth, Westbourne, Poole High Street, Upper Parkstone, Canford Cliffs, Broadstone, Wimborne, Boscombe, Southbourne, Winton, Castlepoint, Christchurch and New Milton.

The Toy Appeal will run until Friday, December 16 so we can get all the gifts wrapped and ready for Christmas delivery.

Anyone who would like to give a toy to a specific charity, please label your donation.