THE first batch of Christmas toys has left the Daily Echo office and is on its way to needy children across the area.

Around 100 gifts have been collected by representatives of Boscombe Salvation Army and will be distributed to families identified by the church and by social services.

Major June Alton said: "These toys make a huge difference to people. There are many families who would either get into more debt to buy presents for their children or those children wouldn't get any presents at all, it is as desperate as that."

She said social services staff will distribute toys to youngsters from birth to around 16-years-old and that gifts donated by Echo readers will be added to those collected at a recent church service.

The Daily Echo's 21st anniversary toy appeal is being carried out in conjunction with Amelia's Rainbow, which delivers gifts to children in hospital over Christmas and to families supported by the charity.

Generous supporters have already donated many hundreds of gifts at our collection points across the conurbation.

And there is still time for more to be collected before the deadline on Tuesday December 12.

Amelia's Rainbow spokesman Natalie Newman said: "We love our annual Toy Appeal where we hand deliver presents to children in Poole hospital on Christmas Day and Dorchester Hospital on Boxing Day.

"For the second year running we will be visiting our families that we support across Dorset and delivering tailor made Santa sacks of presents to our children who are living with any life-limiting, serious, chronic and terminal illnesses.

"We will also be giving presents to the siblings of the children that we support. We find as a charity that the siblings also have a very challenging time and are normally heavily involved with the care and support of our poorly children, so it is just as important that we create happiness for them."

She said Paw Patrol, Lego, Mr Tumble and Star Wars gifts are all in great demand this Christmas.

Collection points are:

Daily Echo, Bournemouth

Dolphin Centre, Poole

Christchurch council offices

4COM (Hurn)

Store and Secure (Castlepoint)

Top Cat Media Group (Pokesdown)

MK Estates Iford (Iford)

MK Estates (Holdenhurst Road)

Jigsaw Specialist Recruitment (Poole)

The Funky Peach (Parkstone)

Highcliffe Hays Travel (Highcliffe)

L of a Car (Poole)

TSB (Boscombe branch)

Ambassadeur Art (Bournemouth Town Centre)

The Jewel Box (Winton)

Curry's / PC World (Poole)

Leaderfox (Ashley Cross)