IT is that time of year again – the Bolton News has launched its Christmas appeal for disadvantaged children.

This year is a very special year though because what was the Caring Christmas Appeal has just got bigger and become Bolton's Big Christmas Toy Appeal.

There are many more local companies and businesses involved and that means more youngsters can be helped ensuring they will get a Christmas to remember.

Every year Bolton Lions in conjunction with The Bolton News help hundreds of needy children have a special festive season.

They get bags of toys and gifts to open on Christmas morning — without Bolton Lions they would be facing a very miserable time indeed.

As always, Bolton Lions will collect larger items from homes or help anyone who cannot get to a collection point. Just look for the Lion closest to your home.

But there are many collection points dotted about Bolton and the various districts surrounding the town so there should be one near you.

We have a collection point here at our offices in the Wellsprings, Civic Centre Bolton which is a good central location for anyone who happens to be in Bolton Town Centre.

Without the generosity of you, the Bolton News readers, the Lions would not be able to run this hugely successful campaign.

Without your generous donations of toys and gifts (we always struggle to get gifts for the older teenagers, particularly the boys) there would be no appeal.

So we are asking you to dig deep again this year. We know times are hard but you can make a huge difference however small your gift may be or however small your cash donation.

Every single penny counts towards a very Merry Christmas for a needy Bolton child.

We need everything from cot toys to cosmetics, books and games to craft kits and dolls.

Good quality used toys are also very welcome.

The goods are taken to a central storage unit where they are sorted (toys needing batteries are checked and jigsaw pieces painstakingly counted) before they are put into large bags and then distributed to the families.

There are hundreds of families relying on your help so please try your best to do a good deed this Christmas and help a child.