IN the countdown to Christmas, kind-hearted people are digging deep to buy hundreds of presents for needy children in the Gazette's Christmas Toy Appeal.

The Gazette has joined forces with Superdrug to help out the Salvation Army in its annual present collection for youngsters who might otherwise receive no presents at all.

And it is not too late to help out the appeal closes on Friday so there is still time for people to drop in a toy or gift at the offices of the Gazette in Devizes and Chippenham, or at a local Superdrug store.

Although Wiltshire may seem to be a relatively affluent part of the country, Christmas is a difficult time for many families who struggle to make ends meet.

Poverty is felt more keenly at Christmas time when most people are indulging their children with all sorts of gifts and treats, which may be out of the reach of parents struggling on a low income.

Last year the Gazette gave the Salvation Army's collection scheme a boost, providing publicity and collection points and this year the newspaper decided to come on board again.

Every week Salvation Army volunteers have taken a van to pick up the hundreds of donations left by Christmas-spirited people at the newspaper offices and Superdrug stores.

"The collections are not bad at all," said Captain Mary Wolfe, of the Salvation Army.

"The van has been filled up every week.

"I don't know for sure yet but I think we have done even better than last year."

She said the involvement of Superdrug had added to the scheme's success as many people out shopping would buy something extra when visiting the shop to pop into the collection box.

Superdrug's Chippenham store manager Ian Farmer said they were surprised by the generosity of local people.

"The box is overflowing," he said. "They took away four or five boxes last week."

People have brought in board games, boxes of sweets, robots, cars, dolls and plenty of cuddlies.

"It has surprised us," he said. "Especially when we first kicked off in the first week within two days we had lots of stuff."

The Salvation Army now has a list of 149 youngsters picked out by Social Services and health visitors, who will receive the presents.

All the gifts will be checked over by the Salvation Army next week and distributed to the social workers and health visitors who will then hand them out to parents.

Gifts have to be new and unwrapped, and parents will have the job of wrapping them up and handing them out to their children on Christmas morning.

Captain Wolfe said they hoped to have enough to give several presents to each child.

Should the collection fall short he said they will buy some extra goodies to top it up.

He said gifts for teenagers are particularly welcome.