MORE stores in Weymouth are getting behind the Echo’s Christmas Toy Appeal.

Staff at WH Smith in St Mary Street said they wanted to help make a difference in the community this Christmas.

Store manager Simon Kingdon is urging customers to donate into the store’s appeal bin.

He said: “We’re delighted to be able to support the Echo’s toy appeal again this year. It’s a great opportunity for us to work together with residents and other businesses to make a difference in the community this Christmas.”

More than £3,300 was raised last year and hundreds of new toys donated to underprivileged children across Dorset to open on Christmas day.

Toys can be donated to appeal bins in shops and businesses across the area.

All the gifts collected will go to children who may have suffered neglect, abuse, be living in refuges with their mothers or in the care of families who simply cannot afford to buy them something special for Christmas.

Staff member James Buckley said customers have already been donating generously into the appeal bin and the store’s collection tin.

Each year the Echo office on the Granby Industrial Estate in Weymouth has been full of sacks of presents before social workers took them to give to needy children on Christmas Day.

Both Echo offices in Weymouth and Dorchester are accepting donations.

The appeal is also seeking businesses willing to donate £100 to top up the funds raised.

Many of the stores collecting toys are also encouraging customers to donate spare change into a toy appeal collection tin.

HOW TO DONATE TO THE DORSET ECHO TOY APPEAL

BUSINESSES: Please donate £100. In previous years this has been amazingly successful and has been the main way that the toy appeal has been able to provide toys and gifts to needy children.

Every donation is gratefully received – and all those donating £100 will be featured in the Echo.

To donate £100 call Debbie Hellaby on 01305 830815 or email debbie. hellaby@ dorsetecho.co.uk Last year more than 30 businesses donated to the toy appeal.

READERS: Simply text 80360 with ECHOTOY.

Texts cost £3 plus your normal operator text charge.

Text lines close on December 16 at 23.59pm. Service provided by Newsquest Media Group. After network charges which vary between networks, all profit which is approx £2 per text, will be donated to the toy appeal.