Christmas is a time of tradition, and tradition dictates that it is about now that articles start appearing in the media suggesting it has all become too commercial and we are losing sight of its real meaning.

Perhaps that is not surprising, for people are (mostly) well into their annual present-buying marathon by now and are once again reminded just how expensive the whole thing can be.

Youngsters, too, are often caught up in all the consumerism, cranking up the pester-power. They cannot really be blamed for this – after all, the advertisers seem to show no mercy in pushing the latest plastic must-haves at them – but that is no consolation to parents who have to deal with sometimes unrealistic and expensive expectations.

And this year many families are having to cope with the added pressure of the recession biting into their budgets.

Amid all this, though, Bradfordians, predictably but rather wonderfully, seem to have a clear grasp of what it is really all about.

Why do we say this? Because there has been a fantastic response to our festive toy appeal to help the Little Heroes charity give presents to sick children, and we are sure that this will continue right up until it closes on December 21.

How uplifting amid all the festive frenzy to see people putting aside time, effort and money to put a smile on the face of a child they will never meet.