A TOY APPEAL aims to ensure there are smiles all round on Christmas Day for needy children and families in our region.

The National Children's Centre in Huddersfield has launched its Christmas Toy Appeal to help those families that might otherwise struggle at Christmas time.

Mike France, centre manager, said: "Through our work all year round we know there are families who can find themselves rather stretched at this time of year and it's so hard for the children to understand.

"We have always had fantastic support from local people who want to share what they have at Christmas time, by adding another child's present to their shopping list. Please do help us again this Christmas."

The Centre, which has been running the appeal since 1976, is asking for gifts of new toys, unwrapped, for boys and girls from birth up to 16 years of age.

These gifts can be given in to key toy appeal sites in Huddersfield's Packhorse Centre, the Queensgate Market, Travelcare (Huddersfield and Holmfirth) Total Fitness at Waterloo, or at Brian Jackson House, the home of the National Children's Centre.

Mike added: "We have referrals arriving every single day at the moment so we are really hoping our supporters will be as generous as they have been in previous years."

The centre runs services which aim to improve the life chances of children, young people and families affected by disadvantage, poverty and exclusion.