A RECORD number of toy donations will give children and adults joy this festive period thanks to the Chippenham Salvation Army Christmas Toy Appeal.

A total of 246 children will be able to open something on Christmas day thanks to the toy appeal, which was launched last month in conjunction with the Gazette and Herald.

The toys have been donated to children in social services, children centres, women’s refuge, parent support groups at local schools and people coming in to the food bank at the Salvation Army.

Most children will receive a large toy, two smaller toys, a book, crayons and colouring book while food hampers have also been distributed to more than 70 families.

Margaret Boyd, corps assistant at the Salvation Army in Foghamshire, said: “We’ve had a very successful toy appeal and we’re completely amazed at the response from the community and we’re thankful to the public.

“We know that the generosity of the public will enable local children to have that special present and experience of opening new toys for Christmas.

“This is the time when the whole community all come together to make the toy appeal amazing.”

A number of drop-off points were located in Chippenham including Wilko in High Street, Goodman Warren Beck on Market Place, Sainsbury’s on Bath Road and Tesco in Emery Gate.

There were also drop-off points in Devizes including Wilko in the High Street and solicitors Awdry Bailey and Douglas, in St John’s Street.

The toys were sorted by volunteers last Tuesday (December 13) and distributed to underprivileged families who can’t provide toys for their children.

Mrs Boyd added: “We’d like to thank the volunteers from Lloyds Bank in Bristol, Co-op in Broomfield, all the drop-off points and several volunteers from the Salvation Army as well as the Gazette and Herald as without all their work we wouldn’t be able to do it.”