TODAY the Salvation Army in Chippenham is launching its annual toy and hamper appeal, in conjunction with the Gazette & Herald.

The appeal supports families who would ordinarily struggle to afford presents for their children and food at Christmas.

Each year the Salvation Army collects donated new toys for children from birth to aged 16 and redistributes them to local families in need.

Mayor Dawn McGarvey said: “It is sad that there are children in Chippenham who need this provision.

"Last year thanks to the kind donations of the people of Chippenham the appeal supported over 250 local children and it is expected that the referrals will match, if not exceed, that this year.”

The Salvation Army is partnering with Goodman Warren & Beck in Market Place, Wilkos in Chippenham and Devizes, Sainsbury’s in Chippenham, Sainsbury’s Station Hill and Calne, Argos and Argos, which is are providing donation points for toys and gifts to be dropped off.

The SA is trying a new venture with a 'reverse Santa’s grotto' at its Foghamshire HQ, for children to visit to give their donated toys directly to Santa to wrap and deliver.

Community support worker Miriam Dann says “We often get parents and children coming in and donating toys and so this year we wanted to go all out to mark the specialness of giving.

“We are so conscious that those donations are special as that parent could chose to give that toy to their own child but instead they are choosing to give it to another child who perhaps would get nothing or very little.”

The grotto will be open on Saturday, December 7 from 10.30am-12.30pm for people to drop in with donations. The monthly Messy Church will be running on the morning of December 7 if children want to drop in for free Christmas craft, a nibble and to hear the Christmas story.