MORE than 7,000 children will gleefully tear wrapping paper off presents tomorrow morning thanks to your generosity.

News & Star readers generously donated presents worth more than £100,000 to our annual Christmas Toy Appeal, helping ensure that this Christmas is a happy one for 7,172 children and their parents.

The presents were donated to disadvantaged children and young people across Cumbria who otherwise would wake up to empty stockings.

Now in its fifth year, the appeal aims to ensure no child goes without presents on what should be one of the most exciting days of their lives. And it really does make a huge difference to people's lives .

Working together with Mission Christmas run by CFM's charity Cash for Kids, we try to ease the pressure on stressed parents and bring joy to children in need.

Christmas time can be incredibly stressful for parents whose budgets cannot stretch to presents. Buying food, paying rent and heating the house can be hard enough without having to worry about affording the latest must-have toy.

By adding an extra present to their Christmas shopping list, our readers have made a huge difference to thousands of lives.

And for that, YOU can't be thanked enough.

Chris Story, associate editor of the News & Star, said: "We've been bowled over by the generosity of our supporters.

"From bikes to board games, people really have clearly wanted to do something special.

"This generosity will make a real difference to thousands of families across north and west Cumbria.

"The thought of a child waking up with no present to open on Christmas morning is a heartbreaking one, so it's nice to be able to do something to mark the season of goodwill."

Bosses at Cash for Kids were also delighted with the efforts of News & Star readers.

Charity manager Stephanie Fleck said: “It's been absolutely fantastic. The campaign just continues to grow and grow.

“I think people at Christmas time are in the mentality of giving. It's such a family time at Christmas, I think that's why it really resonates with people whenever they hear that there are children who do wake up to nothing.”

Hundreds of individuals, families, schools, community groups, work colleagues and care homes have backed the appeal by either giving cash donations or presents and we cannot thank you enough.

Many large and small businesses and banks have also helped by opening their doors as drop-off points.

All the toys, sweets, books and games have now been distributed to families around Cumbria. Each child receives three presents so a fantastic total of 21,516 presents have been given out in the past month.

A few extra presents have been kept behind at the distribution centre in Arco, Kingstown, to make sure we can give gifts out if any emergency applications come in from agencies next week.