GENEROUS people across the borough are being asked to dig deep to help make this year's Operation Santa appeal another record-breaking success.

The Dudley Council for Voluntary Service campaign will be searching for donations of new toys, books, games, clothes and bedding.

Last year, the appeal collected 13,542 items which were donated to disadvantaged children, giving them a better Christmas.

This year, the campaign is once again getting help from Kingswinford’s Blaze Hairdressers owner Brett Harris and his faithful hard-working team who, like a chain of magic Christmas elves unloading Santa’s sleigh, have delivered a magnificent collection of assorted gifts to help the appeal.

The team has lifted heavy boxes of Christmas presents, filled with 4,422 brand new gifts to be distributed out to children.

The mountainous pile of presents will be stored at a temporary grotto to be sorted and allocated to voluntary groups and charities in Dudley for distribution to children and families who are in need this Christmas.

Eileen Fielding, who has co-ordinated the Dudley CVS Operation Santa Appeal for 12 years, said: “In these hard financial times, it’s amazing to see so many donations from businesses and individuals.

“We have received twice as much stuff this year from last year’s business mystery business donor, which will help thousands of disadvantaged children in the Dudley borough.”

Anyone who wants to donate to this year’s appeal can do so by calling co-ordinator Eileen Fielding at Dudley CVS on 01384 573381 or emailing volunteer@dudleycvs.org.uk.