With just over a week to go until the Toy Appeal ends, we have received a great boost from Swinton Insurance.

Staff at the Workington based office had a great time buying £200 worth of presents for the News & Star Toy Appeal.

Karen Gibson, customer service manager at Swinton Insurance, Workington, said: "It's always something I have donated to personally by buying the extra Christmas present.

"Nobody wants children to wake up on Christmas morning with no presents. I think it's such a nice thing to do.

"At the end of the day Christmas is for children."

National company Swinton Insurance gave staff in Workington £400 to give back to their local community this Christmas. They decided to split the money between the Toy Appeal and their local food bank, giving £200 worth of food and collection boxes.

Every year the News & Star runs the Toy Appeal in conjunction with CFM radio's Mission Christmas. Working together we are trying to make sure no child in Cumbria wakes up on Christmas morning with no presents to unwrap.

This year we are aiming to give presents to at least 7,172 children and with just over a week until the appeal ends on Friday, December 16, we need lots more donations to reach that target. At the moment we have enough presents for 3,691 children.

The appeal's title is slightly misleading as it is not just children's toys we need. We need presents suitable for both boys and girls aged from babies to 18-year-olds.

When buying the presents, Swinton Insurance staff tried to pick a good variety for all ages.

Demi-Jade Markham, who works in the customer service team, said: "We want to get a mixture from babies to teens."

Often the hardest group to buy for - and therefore the group that ends up with the fewest donations - is teenage boys. Karen suggested buying some Lynx deodorant for them while family support worker, June Wordsworth, of East Cumbria Family Support, said gift cards are a great present.

For more information about the Toy Appeal and drop off points around the county visit our website.