TEN bags stuffed full of games, puzzles and sweets were donated by The Range staff, who raised about £300 for the Toy Appeal.

Staff from The Range on Currock Road, Carlisle, dropped off the bags bursting with presents at the News & Star offices yesterday.

Among the donated goodies were superhero stationary kits, painting sets, sweets, chocolate, a manicure kit, bracelet beads set and lots of puzzles.

All of these new presents will be handed to parents in Cumbria to wrap up and give to their children on Christmas day. If it wasn't for the News & Star Toy Appeal, many of those parents would not be able to give their children presents because they simply cannot afford it.

David Wise, store manager at The Range, said: "We work in a shop where Christmas is quite important to our business. It's our key time of year really.

"We just think [the Toy Appeal] is something good to do because it's for people who can't afford things in our local community. We just like to make a contribution and it's not that much when you have got 40 odd staff."

The Range has supported the Toy Appeal for three years now and each year the pot of money staff donate keeps growing. This year's £300 is their best contribution yet.

The annual News & Star Toy Appeal is run together with CFM radio's Mission Christmas to make sure we reach as many children and teenagers in Cumbria as possible. We're hoping to reach at least 7, 172 children.

Why not get involved like staff at The Range? You can raise money for the Toy Appeal or donate presents for babies to 18-year-olds.