COMPANIES, organisations and individuals have responded to the call once again and have been throwing their weight behind the Dorset Echo Christmas Toy Appeal.

We asked 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 so many toys and gifts to needy children.

A Weymouth holiday home provider has generously donated to the appeal.

Dream Cottages, which is based in Hope Square, have given £100 to the toy appeal, in a bid to make sure underprivileged children in Dorset have a gift to open on Christmas Day.

Last year local businesses, shops and groups helped to raise almost £4,500 for the toy appeal and this year we hope to raise even more.

All of the money donated is used to buy gifts for needy youngsters who may otherwise go without this Christmas.

This is the first year Dream Cottages have donated to the appeal.

Sales and marketing director Joy Sangster said: “We love the idea of giving something back to our local community.

“We want to support local causes as it’s important to recognise that not all children are lucky enough to have presents at Christmas.”

A haulage company is helping to make sure every child has a present to open on Christmas Day.

Wareham-based Andrews Plant has kindly donated £100.

Owner of the family business, Peter Andrews, said: “We have supported the appeal for two or three years and we will always continue to support it.

“It is a great case and the most important thing is it helps local children have a nice Christmas, that’s why we donate.

“I would certainly encourage other businesses to get involved and donate.”