MORE than 3,700 underprivileged children will wake up on Christmas Day to sacks full of toys thanks to a Knutsford-based charity.

Each sack will contain eight gifts, which have been donated to the Toy Appeal or been bought with money which has been raised throughout the year.

The Toy Appeal was started in 2013 by Twemlow Green residents Dee and Chris Drake, who have been delighted by the response to this year’s appeal.

In the first year 500 toy sacks were packed, which has grown this year to 3,713, which will be distributed across Cheshire, Manchester and all the way up to Blackpool this year.

This year also saw the 10,000 toy sack being packed since the appeal was launched.

The packing in readiness for delivery took place at Egerton Sports Club at Knutsford, with 29,000 toys packed by 350 volunteers. The sacks will be delivered to 110 locations by 15 vans on 21 runs.

For more information about how the appeal works visit thetoyappeal.com/

The Justgiving link for the fundraising is justgiving.com/campaigns/charity/thetoyappeal/christmas2018

Thirty per cent of the toys are donated, the remainder being bought with money raised from fundraising events, including Egerton FC’s ‘A Night at the Oscars’ at the Mere in March and a ball at the Radisson Blu Edwardian in Manchester in November.

Working with social workers, schools and drop-in centres, the appeal is provided with lists of families who need help to ensure their children receive something at Christmas.

Each toy sack is made specifically for each child, based on their age and any special needs they may have.