CHRISTMAS shoppers have been urged to dig deep and buy an extra gift for the Daily Echo and Amelia's Rainbow Christmas Toy Appeal 2018.

As the festive season approaches, there's still plenty of time to deliver a present to one of the 19 collection points across Bournemouth, Poole, Christchurch, Ferndown and Ringwood.

Toys collected will be given to sick and disadvantaged children and will be distributed by children's charity Amelia's Rainbow.

So please be generous and help young people and their families to enjoy the festive season this year.

We are asking for new toys but don't worry about wrapping them up.

Amelia's Rainbow is organising an army of volunteers to sort, wrap and deliver gifts after the deadline of December 12.

As usual we are collecting toys in the Daily Echo office in Richmond Hill, Bournemouth.

Amelia's Rainbow was set up in memory of eight-year-old Amelia Grace Cooper in 2010 following her death from an aggressive form of childhood cancer called neuroblastoma.

Amelia’s Rainbow supports children in Dorset and the surrounding area who are suffering from any terminal, life-limiting, serious and chronic illnesses.

The charity aims to create an environment full of fun, laughter, achievement and memories through providing funds for activities and play which will enrich the lives of children who are suffering.

Every year, the small team at Amelia’s Rainbow take gifts to the children’s ward at Poole and Dorset County hospitals on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

They also deliver gifts to the families of children the charity has supported over the last few years.

Their brothers and sisters also receive presents and last year the charity delivered 134 tailor-made Santa sacks.

OFFICIAL 2018 TOY DROP OFF / COLLECTION POINTS:

• BOURNEMOUTH DAILY ECHO OFFICE (Bournemouth Town Centre)

• 4COM (Hurn)

• STORE AND SECURE (Castlepoint)

• MK ESTATES IFORD (Iford)

• MK ESTATES (Holdenhurst Road)

• THE FUNKY PEACH (Parkstone)

• HIGHCLIFFE HAYS TRAVEL (Highcliffe)

• L OF A CAR (Ringwood Road, Poole)

• JIGSAW SPECIALIST RECRUITMENT (Poole)

• THE JEWEL BOX (Winton)

• THE BATHWORKS(Moordown)

• NATIONWIDE POOLE (Poole High Street)

• THE MINT ACADEMY (Southbourne)

• M&S FERNDOWN FOODHALL (Ferndown)

• LEADERFOX (Ashley Cross)

• TOP CAT MEDIA GROUP (Pokesdown)

• PRESTIGE HOLIDAYS (Ringwood Town Centre)

• TSB (Boscombe)

• THE WORKS STAFFING SOLUTIONS (Holdenhurst Road, Lansdowne)