SAYING thank you to its local supporters is the reason one Weymouth company has donated to the Echo Christmas Toy Appeal.

Family-run Fish ‘N’ Fritz, in Market Street, has given £100 to ensure that underprivileged children across Dorset will not have to go without on Chris-tmas Day.

Owner Paul Hall said: “We receive so much from our customers, old and young throughout the year.

“This is a way of showing our appreciation to the local community and giving something back to it.

“We really feel, as we always have, that £100 is such a small price to pay for something that does so much good in the local area.

“We try to give as much as we can to charity, particularly when it goes towards local children.”

Paul added that he likes that the Echo Toy Appeal benefits children of all ages.

He said: “It doesn’t matter how much you give, the money raised is going to give a merry Christmas to babies and teens alike.”

The Echo is appealing for more businesses to donate to the appeal and ensure that every child who has signed up receives a gift this Christmas.

Paul said: “To make sure that there’s a smile on a child’s face on Christmas morning is an unbelievable feeling.”

• THERE are just a few days left of the Echo Christmas Toy Appeal and we urgently need more generous donations to make sure no child goes without.

Toys can be donated at a number of locations across the county to ensure every child that has signed up receives a present this Christmas.

Echo promotions manager Debbie Hellaby said: “Businesses backing the appeal have been great and have boosted the appeal.

“Our thanks go to them and to anyone who has donated toys already.

“But we really need people to dig deep and donate toys just as soon as they can as time is running out and we will struggle otherwise.

“We want to make sure every child has a toy on Christmas Day.”

Please only donate new, unwrapped gifts and please no cuddly toys.