‘GIVING children a happy Christmas’ is the motivation behind one Weymouth company donating to the Toy Appeal.

Peter Old, chairman and owner of the Wasabi Company, has generously donated £100 this year towards the appeal which will help provide toys for underprivileged children in Dorset this Christmas.

The Wasabi Company in Weymouth began growing fresh wasabi five years ago and have been selling direct to food outlets and restaurants since last year.

It is believed the company are currently the only growers of fresh wasabi, a Japanese aquatic plant, in Europe.

Mr Old has supported the Toy Appeal with generous donations every year since it began 14 years ago. He said: “I am always keen to support children’s charities, in particular the local Christmas Toy Appeal.”

Almost £4,000 was raised last year and thousands of new toys were donated to underprivileged children across Dorset to open on Christmas day.

Last year sacks of presents filled the Weymouth office before social workers and carers took them to deliver to underprivileged youngsters. All the gifts collected will go to children who may have suffered neglect, abuse or be living in refugees with their mothers.

Many are in the care of families who simply cannot afford to buy them something special for Christmas.