A DORCHESTER photographer is helping to put a smile on youngsters’ faces this Christmas by supporting the Echo’s Toy Appeal.

Greg Cameron-Day runs a photography studio in Durngate Street, specialising in family and children’s portraiture.

His business is one of the collection points for toy donations for this year’s appeal.

The appeal aims to bring joy to underprivileged children across Dorset at Christmas, by giving them a Christmas present.

Now in its 14th year, this year the appeal is hoping to help even more needy children than before.

Mr Cameron-Day said he just wanted to do his bit to help young people in Dorset.

He said: “I usually do events for the Children In Need campaign at this time of year. I’ve been doing it for a few years and I thought I would have a change this year and support local children.”

He added that a lot of children across Dorset might not have the chance to celebrate Christmas otherwise and it was good to think the Toy Appeal would be able to help them out.

As a parent himself, Mr Cameron-Day said it really ‘hit home’ about the plight of Dorset youngsters. He will be running a special offer of a voucher worth £100 for portraiture for £25 and the money raised will also go towards the Toy Appeal.

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

Shoppers can drop something in when they are doing their Christmas shopping and the appeal is also looking for businesses willing to donate £100, which will top up the funds raised by the appeal.

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

n We are looking for 30 businesses to donate £100 each for our appeal.

This has been amazingly successful in previous years and has been the main way that the toy appeal has been able to provide toys and gifts to needy children.

Each 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