The Telegraph & Argus Save Our Play Appeal has received a massive boost from Bradford Vision.

The district's leading regeneration body has handed over a cheque for £1,000 to help safeguard the future of Bradford Toy Library.

And other fantastic donations have helped push the total to £26,485.43.

This includes £621 from Richard Towers, who held a Soul and Motown night at the Midland Hotel, Bradford; £80 from pupils at Cavendish Primary School, Eccleshill; £150 from Clayton Heights Working Men's Club; and £328.86 from City Training Services, Chapel Street, Bradford.

Sharmila Gandhi, Bradford Vision's chief executive, said: "Bradford Toy Library deserves the support for the vital service it provides to children and their families across the district.

"We are working with a family of partnerships, including the district's NHS Primary Care Trusts and hospital trust, to turn local people's own blueprint for the future - the 2020 Vision - into reality.

"Already more than £573,000 has been allocated to 65 Neighbourhood Action Plans in communities in almost every part of the district.

"As the toy library provides its services to families district wide - and has a mobile unit which goes out into communities - Bradford Vision is delighted to be able to support the T&A toy library appeal."

Maggie Nixon, head teacher of Cavendish Primary School, said the children raised the money by putting spare money into a wishing well.

"Watching the children putting in their pennies and giving up their snack money in order to benefit other children was heartwarming," she said.

Emma Fawcett, co-ordinator of the toy library, said it was great news. "I would like to thank everyone for thinking of us and giving so generously," she said.

The toy library is a registered charity based at St Luke's Hospital. It lends out specialist toys to more than 1,000 children across the district with special needs and disabilities.

It also houses the Laura Jackson Library, which has the biggest collection of literature on special needs in the north.

The cash-strapped library was threatened with closure unless money could be raised to meet running costs and buy new specialist toys, which can cost more than £100 each.

The appeal is aiming to raise £30,000 to safeguard the library for the next two-and-a-half years.