A HALLOWE'EN party wouldn't be complete without toffee apples and that's why two enterprising fundraisers are now appealing for help.

Mandy Grimshaw and her pal, Michelle Kidd, both of Pilkington Road, Kearsley, were spurred into organising a children's Hallowe'en Disco to raise money for Guide Dogs for the Blind, after Mandy's husband Ged, who was blinded in an accident last year, received his guide dog Oliver.

The independence and hope the dog gave to Ged inspired the pair into raising money for the association which has one of its main training centres in Lowndes Street, Bolton.

Although beginners in the fund-raising business, the pair have already secured services, gifts and money from shops and businesses across the borough.

But now they face a problem. Kind-hearted bosses at the Bolton-based fruit and vegetable wholesalers Joseph Atherton Ltd, are donating 800 apples, sticks and wrappers for the Hallowe'en Disco which takes place at Kearsley Sports Centre on Friday, October 31.

But now the women need help in putting the apples together and coating them with chocolate.

Michelle explained: "Apparently it is difficult to make the toffee apple coating so we've decided to leave it simple and have opted for chocolate."

But another problem is that they have not got any chocolate.

"Ideally we could do with hearing from catering companies with large enough facilities to put together the apples and their storage. Because of their sell by date we will only get the apples three days before the disco - so really any time from October 28."

If you can help ring Michelle on Bolton 430908.

Tickets for the disco are available from Kearsley Sports Centre and Kearsley West School.

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