Charity inundated with toys after appeal in Plymouth

Toy donations have been accepted at all three Salvation Army churches in Plymouth, including Whitleigh

The Salvation Army in Plymouth is preparing to send out hundreds of toys after being inundated with donations, bosses say.

The charity's Christmas Present Appeal provides gifts for children in families struggling to make ends meet.

Organisers said the 2023 appeal had been so successful it had stopped accepting further toy donations.

The Salvation Army said it distributed donated gifts to more than 1,000 children in the city in 2022.

Tom Dunham, Salvation Army church leader at Whitleigh, said: "Helping a parent provide a gift for their child is more than just financial support, it brings the joy of Christmas into their home.

"We have seen the devastating effect of the cost of living crisis.

"People are really struggling and so we are doing what we can to relieve the pressure this Christmas."

The Salvation Army said it was sorting the gifts before sending them out to children and families in the area through local groups, children's centres, schools and social services.