An Alsager couple who help co-ordinate the annual Alsager Toy Appeal are getting ready for their own Christmas after another busy year.

Alsager's very own Mr & Mrs Christmas, aka Don and Teresa Longhurst, co-ordinate the annual event run by Alsager Community Support Centre.

A bumper 224 young children and teenagers across the area will be waking up on Christmas Day to their presents.

Some of the toys in this year's appeal

Don and Teresa and the rest of Alsager toy appeal 'elves' are now taking a well-earned rest after getting presents delivered.

But the gifts don't just suddenly appear – there's a carefully organised system which swings into action to make it happen.

As early as the end of October, emails are sent out to schools, social workers and food banks asking for nominations for lucky recipients.

Then an appeal is put out for donations and presents of all sorts and wrapping paper begin to appear.

Don, an Alsager group scout leader and acting district commissioner for Potteries North and vice president of Alsager Rotary, said: "I'm always amazed at the generosity of Alsager people.

"We have some wonderful things donated.

"We had 22 vouchers donated by an anonymous person and people go out and buy presents for the appeal."

Alsager Toy Appeal is the brainchild of Alsager Community Support Centre

And it's not just toys and gifts which are donated – wrapping paper and tape is also donated, as parents and carers wrap up the presents themselves.

"We've had some wonderful things donated again this year," said Teresa, a leader for 5th Alsager Brownies and a leader for the 2nd and 3rd Alsager Guides.

"We always put a main gift, then a puzzle, stocking filler and maybe some chocolate.

"We get all kinds of things donated from Ted Baker toiletries to footballs and goal nets, dolls and Lego.

"It's wonderful to see all the gifts and to get them sorted with our amazing bunch of volunteers.

"We don't know the children ourselves. It's completely anonymous which is important."

Teresa and Don have been helping to co-ordinate the community centre appeal since lockdown.

"We were approached as they needed new volunteers and we've been helping ever since," said Teresa.

The majority of work is carried out over a few weeks but plans could be in the pipeline to extend the window when donations can be made.

For this year though, the toy appeal is done and dusted but that's not to say plans aren't being made for next year's.

"We do have a few toys dropped which we're keeping for next year," said Don.

"This year has been different due to the cost-of-living crisis. We just hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas and New Year," said Don.