Our picture shows Presenter Chris Rose helping with the final delivery.

The appeal, which was launched on air by Newbury Mayor Val Bull in December, received hundreds of soft toys, board games, dolls, action figures, craft sets and other toys. They were dropped off at Kick FM’s studios in Bone Lane, at branches of the Newbury Building Society, and collected by Swift Couriers who set up a dedicated hotline. All the gifts were distributed to children and families in need across West Berkshire by Social Services and Children’s Ward staff.

Presenters Chris Rose and Charlotte Butt from West Berkshire’s Brighter Breakfast helped make the final delivery to Social Services. Jacqui Daniels from West Berkshire Social Services said, “People continue to surprise us. It’s been a year where there have been a lot of natural disasters, and the population have been very supportive. It’s wonderful to know people are still thinking about local children”.

Steven Hitchcock from Swift Couriers said, “It has been tremendous, and even the drivers who have been helping out have been overawed – it’s just been fantastic”.

Kick FM Station Manager Andy Green said, “We couldn’t move for toys! The buzzer has been going all the time with people dropping off toys to us, and Swift Couriers and Newbury Building Society have been very busy too. This has definitely been the best one yet, so thank you to everyone who made a donation.”