MORE donations have been flooding in to the Dorset Echo Christmas Toy Appeal.

Businesses, groups and individuals have continued to send in donations to make sure that underprivileged children living in Dorset have a present to open on Christmas Day.

A generous grandfather decided to donate the money he would have spent on his grandchild to the toy appeal.

Tony Barrett from Portland welcomed his first grandchild Emmeline Nancy Goddard into the world on February 2 this year and has been doting on her ever since.

He said: “We bought her lots of presents at Easter and then again during the summer. I was on the bus into town with £125 to buy her Christmas gifts when I read about the Toy Appeal in the Echo.”

Tony decided that instead of buying gifts for Emmeline, he would donate the money to the toy appeal. He said he had spoken to Emmeline’s mother and she had told him to do it, as the youngster would be getting plenty of gifts from the rest of the family.

“I just think it would be wonderful in years to come for her to see that I used the money to help other children at Christmas,” he said.

“We have had a good life and it is good to help others.”

Tony has been fundraising throughout the year and said he wanted to thank Betty and Ken Boardman for all their help.

A Weymouth removal company has generously donated £100 to the toy appeal.

Direct Removals Weymouth is helping underprivileged local children by donating to the 15th annual appeal.

The kind donation will go towards buying gifts which will be distributed to needy children across Dorset.

Barry Smale, one of the owners of Direct Removals, said: “I have got young children, and a lot of the other staff here have children. We can afford to buy presents and it is nice to help other people who may not be in the same position.

“It is always nice to support a local charity like the toy appeal, especially at Christmas time. I would definitely encourage other businesses to get involved.”