KIND-HEARTED local children are leading the way in giving gifts to ensure that needy youngsters enjoy Christmas this year.

Along with their parents and other caring adults, they have been taking their presents to toy services at Blackrod Methodist Church, St John the Evangelist in Harwood, and Chorley Old Road United Reformed Church.

And they have been handing them in at places like Susan Isaacs' nursery in Halliwell -- all as part of the annual BEN/Bolton Lions' Caring Christmas appeal.

Already, hundreds of toys and gifts have been handed in at the collection points listed here, and the Lions have been out and about picking up other items donated from local homes.

But the Lions still need many more gifts to accommodate the hundreds of requests from individuals and from local organisations dealing with needy families.

They particularly need gifts for girls aged six to 10 years at present, and they need donations of cash to help them buy gifts generally.

If YOU can help at all, please take items along to any of the places listed here, or give the Lions a call if you need something collected.

A helping hand has already come from caring companies, locally and nationally.

These include: Whitakers of Deansgate, Kings Grove Press, Betty Barclay, Windsmoor, Traidcraft, Clinique, Morrisons, Nightingale's mail-order, MacLaurin Group PR, L'Oreal, Adams Childrenswear, Ben Sherman, Potter's Herbal Medicines, Charles Worthington, Dorling Kindersley, NEXT, and Betterwear.

The Lions also want to thank all those who have donated cash or cheques to the appeal, and the many people giving donations to Father Christmas in Crompton Place, Bolton.