AFTER months of planning and fundraising, The Toy Appeal delivered 3,000 toy sacks to underprivileged children across Trafford.

Egerton Football Club in Knutsford, a key partner for the charity, transformed its hall into Santa’s workshop for the day, with over 300 volunteers sorting thousands of toys.

Dee Drake, who founded The Toy Appeal charity in 2013, with her husband Chris said: “We’re exhausted but over the moon.

“This was a huge challenge compared to last year, but we’ve done it!”

“It has to be very carefully organised - The toys are hand-picked, then, the sacks are made up for each child and loaded onto the right vans, in the right order.

"Our drivers follow planned routes, to ensure all toys are delivered to the right children across Cheshire and Greater Manchester.”

Dee and Chris committed to helping 3,000 children this year, a huge leap from 1,9000 last year - It needed extra everything from storage, volunteers, toys and funds.

Dee said: "We are overwhelmed by the generosity and response to this year’s campaign - our amazing supporters have risen to the challenge.

“We’ve had more businesses collecting toys and more donations from the public. But what delights me the most, is children helping children

“This year, we were thrilled to have more schools on board than ever before, and that makes the whole thing more magical."

Charities, social workers and schools refer cases of disadvantaged children to The Toy Appeal, aged from birth to 17 years old. Once they are on the list, the charity commits to providing every child with a personalised toy sack. They receive at least eight gifts, which take into account their age, special needs and circumstances.

Chris Drake said: “It’s a huge amount of work but when you learn of the heart-breaking lives some children lead in your area, you’ve got to do something.

“The Toy Appeal’s mission is to bring some Christmas joy to these children, who otherwise would receive nothing.”

Dee and Chris especially want to thank Tom O’Donnell, Gaynor Clifton and Mike Walker from Egerton Football Club, all drop-off points, Event Buddha, Fox Restaurant in Hale, Quinn Civil Engineering, Roll Cages UK and all their supporters.

They also want to thank their team leaders, fundraising team, drivers, delivery teams and Fiona O’Donnell, Catherine Fraser, Joanne Napier and Charlotte Grainge, for feeding the volunteers.

Work on the appeal starts again straight away in January. To help by donating money at www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/TheToyAppeal.

The charity are also holding a joint fundraising ball with Egerton Football Club is at The Mere Golf Club, Saturday March 3, 2018 and still has a few tables available.