SANTA is arriving early for local families who are struggling to buy presents for their children.

A Toy Drive will be held in Kingskerswell Parish Church on Saturday, December 3, from 9.30am to 3pm.

Woods Estate Agents and Auctioneers is appealing to families who have new or good used condition toys, games, fancy dress items or electronics suitable for all ages, from toddler to teens, that they no longer need or want, to donate them to the Christmas Toy Drive.

Items can be dropped into any of the Woods offices in Chudleigh, Bovey Tracey, Totnes, Kingsteignton or Preston, Paignton on or before Friday, December 2.

A spokesperson said ‘We are in desperate need of:

Pre-loved or New Toys (Baby - Teenager).  We will have all electrical items PAT tested.

Baked goods to hand out on the day

Wrapping paper so that we can wrap the gifts

‘We have a number of drop off points but are also happy to collect.

‘We have been thinking about how we can help those in our community who do not have very much this Christmas.

‘There will be number of parents who cannot afford a gift for their children this year.

‘There are charities that collect ‘new’ toys to give to those in need, however there are so many people in need not all of them will receive something.

There will be no charge for the toys, but anyone who wishes to make a donation can do so – all funds raised will be spent on food for THAT (Teignbridge Homeless Action Today), the local food bank.

Any toys left over will be given to Kingskerswell Action Group, which exists to improve the quality of life for its residents and has a charity shop at Coles Lane Gardens.

Sarah Thomas, distinctive homes coordinator at Woods, said: ‘It has been reported that most people in the UK will be cutting back on spending this Christmas and that nearly 20% of families are considering cancelling Christmas altogether because of the spiralling cost of living.

‘We have also opened the event to Small Local Businesses; if anyone would like to have a stall to sell their items, this will also be free of charge (there will be an honesty box if anyone would like to make a donation, this will go towards buying food for the local food bank).

Drop Off Points are Woods Estate Agents Office’s at :

329 Torquay Road, Preston in Paignton, TQ3 2EP

5 Station Road, Bovey Tracey, TQ13 9AL

8 The Square, Chudleigh, TQ13 0HX

2 Newton Road, Kingsteignton, TQ12 3AJ

1 The Plains, Totnes, TQ9 5DR