STAFF and customers at the Shipley branch of Santander have been donating toys for children this Christmas.

A toy collection has been taking place at the Shipley bank over recent weeks and a range of toys and games have been coming in from staff and customers, to suit children of different ages.

Customers have also been donating money, which was used to buy toys and games.

Now all the gifts are being wrapped and distributed to youngsters in the district through the charity Cash for Kids, which supports children and young people across the country affected by poverty, abuse, neglect and illness.

The charity’s Mission Christmas venture, helping 16,000 children overall, has been organised by Cash for Kids and Pulse 1.

Chrissie Radley, who is the manager of the Shipley branch of Santander, said: “We have been supporting this charity for the last five years.

“We would like to thank all our customers and staff in Shipley for their kind generosity .”

Based across more than 20 areas in the UK, grant-giving charity Cash for Kids helps community groups, other charitable organisations, schools and individual causes.

The charity told Santander staff and customers: "We appreciate your support so much and with your help 16,000 local children will receive a present on Christmas Day.

We really do appreciate your generosity in helping support local children, who are at risk of waking up to nothing on Christmas morning.

Thank you for helping Cash for Kids keep the Christmas dream alive. Together we can make such a difference to local disadvantaged children within West Yorkshire, the Yorkshire Dales, Harrogate and York."