WITH the Christmas shopping season in full swing we're appealing to our readers to buy an extra gift to support the Daily Echo Toy Appeal 2017.

We have joined forces with the Amelia's Rainbow Fund and hope to collect thousands of toys to bring festive cheer to poorly and needy children across Dorset.

Hundreds of toys have already been donated and will be distributed to organisations and charities including children's centres and foodbanks.

The Amelia's Rainbow Fund will deliver gifts to children in Poole Hospital on Christmas Day and to those in the Dorset County Hospital in Dorchester on Boxing Day.

Individuals and families supported by the organisation will also be offered gifts.

The Daily Echo appeal is now in its 21st year and has provided comfort for families in need every Christmas.

The Amelia's Rainbow Fund was set up following the death of eight-year-old Amelia-Grace Cooper in 2010.

The bubbly and popular little girl was struck down with an aggressive form of childhood cancer called Neuroblastoma.

Before she died her parents, Chantel and Karl, were able to enjoy special days out and outings thanks to the generosity of others.

The Fund raises money to offer similar opportunities to other children with life-limiting illnesses.

Charity fundraiser Natalie Newman said: "We are happy to be joining forces with the Daily Echo again this year."

The deadline for toy collection is Tuesday December 12 to allow plenty of time to deliver the gifts.

Toy collection points are as follows:

Daily Echo offices in Richmond Hill, Bournemouth and Commercial Road, Swanage

Dolphin Centre, Poole

Christchurch council offices, Bridge Street

Other drop off points:

4COM (Hurn) - Loewy House, 11 Enterprise Way, Aviation Park West, Christchurch, BH23 6EW

STORE AND SECURE (Castlepoint) - 5 Yeomans Way, Castlepoint, Bournemouth, BH8 0BL

TOP CAT MEDIA GROUP (Pokesdown) - Scotter Road, Pokesdown, Bournemouth, BH7 6LY

MK ESTATES IFORD (Iford) - 2 Castle Parade, Iford, Bournemouth BH7 6SH

MK ESTATES (Holdenhurst Road) - 337 Holdenhurst Road, Bournemouth, BH8 8BT

JIGSAW SPECIALIST RECRUITMENT (Poole) - Bayside Business Centre, 1 Sovereign Business Park, 48 Willis Way, Poole, BH15 3TB

THE FUNKY PEACH (Parkstone) - 588 Ashley Road, Parkstone, Poole, BH14 0AQ

HIGHCLIFFE HAYS TRAVEL (Highcliffe) - 324 Lymington Road, Highcliffe, Christchurch, BH23 5EY

L OF A CAR (Poole) - 228 Ringwood Road, Poole, BH14 0RS

TSB (Boscombe branch) - 584 Christchurch Road, Boscombe, Bournemouth, BH1 4BL

AMBASSADEUR ART (Bournemouth Town Centre) - 11 Westover Road, Bournemouth, Dorset BH1 2BY

THE JEWEL BOX (Winton) - 363 Wimborne Road, Winton, Bournemouth, BH9 2AD

CURRYS / PC WORLD (Poole) - Wessex Gate Retail Park, 4 Broadstone Way, Poole BH15 3TE