Help make sure every child receives a gift this Christmas

SHOPPERS were treated to an early blast of Christmas carols as an annual campaign to bring festive cheer was launched.

Pupils from Redscope Primary School and St Joseph’s RC Primary School teamed up with Rotherham United chairman Tony Stewart, Millers stars Anthony Forde and Stephen Kelly and the Mayor of Rotherham, Cllr Lyndsay Pitchley, at Parkgate Shopping to kick off the annual Christmas Toy Appeal.

Voluntary Action Rotherham is now co-ordinating the appeal, which has been running for over 20 years supporting children in Rotherham who would not otherwise receive a gift at Christmas.

Visitors to Parkgate are encouraged to buy one extra gift during their Christmas shopping trips to the park.

Gifts can then be left with security staff in each of the shops and are passed on at the end of the day to the appeal headquarters.

If you know of a family where children will not receive a gift on Christmas morning, get in touch with appeal volunteer Ann Levick on 01709 829821 or email her on [email protected].

You can also drop gifts, which should not be wrapped, off at the Advertiser’s Wellgate office, the Town Hall and the HQ of Voluntary Action Rotherham in Coke Hill, Rotherham, until December 19.