GENEROUS employees have donated dozens of gifts for this year's Daily Echo and Amelia's Rainbow Christmas Toy Appeal.

Paulina Blonska, product team leader at Curtiss-Wright, delivered a very generous 15 bags full of toys to the Daily Echo office, doubling the amount of gifts under our tree.

It is the second time the company, which is based at Aviation Park West at Bournemouth Airport, has donated to the toy appeal. Paulina said: I'm a big Christmas freak - it's the best time of year. At Curtiss-Wright we're lucky to have a thoughtful and generous team of staff.

"This year we decided not only to collect toys but also raise money to buy some new ones. We started collecting at the beginning of November. Around 50 staff members donated toys, and we raised around £130." Paulina took a day off work to pay a visit to Poole and use the donated money to buy some more toys for the appeal.

"People were laughing at me at the shop as I was carrying away four big bags of toys," she said.

So far this festive season, kind-hearted members of the public have been delivering presents 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 Amelia's Rainbow.

The children's charity is organising an army of volunteers to sort, wrap and deliver gifts after the deadline of Wednesday, December 12.

As usual we have been 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.