An amazing 11,000 toys have been collected for the Toys on the Table appeal after a last-minute surge of donations.

Toys were still coming in over the weekend as volunteers from organisers Voluntary Action Leicester (VAL), sorted them at the centre on Newarke Street to be distributed in time for Christmas.

About 20 volunteers worked through the weekend sorting through the mountains of books, games, colouring sets, dolls, board games, jigsaws, footballs, skipping ropes and cars which have been donated for children in need across Leicestershire.

Organisers started out aiming to collect 12,000 toys. Early last week they had counted 5,000 and donations leading to Friday's deadline have taken the final total to nearly 11,000, with 2,000 teddies alone.

Organisers said were delighted with the total.
Alex Grealis said: "It's brilliant. It looks like we've managed to fill all our targets in terms of what we give the children. The quality of the toys is excellent.
"I would like to say a huge thankyou to everyone who has donated toys, time, money or anything else."

Reena Joshi from VAL said: "Many people have also donated cash instead of toys and we have collected over £1,700."

Alex Branston from the centre said: "It is fantastic. It is really nice that people give so much."

Staff and volunteers sorted the toys for suitable age groups and checked they were safe to give out to children across the city.

The gifts were counted on Saturday and packed for distribution on Sunday. They will be collected by social services who will then deliver them to families across the county.

The appeal got off to a slow start when it began three weeks ago with people giving steadily but the amount of donations in the past week has kept organisers and volunteers at the centre very busy.

Kirsten Riegner, 21 a volunteer, was amazed at the amount of toys. She said: "I'm very impressed, I have never been involved with something like this before."

Last year, about 1,700 children in the county were given presents by the charity. The Toys on the Table collection was set up by Leicester St Martin's 39 Round Table. It is run by Voluntary Action Leicester, with support from the Leicester Mercury Newspaper, Fosse Park Shopping Centre and BBC Radio Leicester.