Gloucestershire children's charity the Pied Piper is appealing for new and nearly new, good quality toys for sick and disabled children in hospital this December.

Pied Piper is collecting until 20th December after which there will be a huge toy count up and mass distribution to the children.

Already at about 40% of target with donations received and pledged there is still a long way to go in the next two weeks, so a big shout out to county companies to help swell the toy pool. There are many deals and BOGOFs in all the stores and online to help.

Firms and individuals can drop off at various collections points; the charity HQ at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital. Some firms are acting as a mini collection point for staff, friends and suppliers including Allcooper Security & Fire, Officeworx and all Baylis branches.

The Toy Appeal rounds off a fantastic year for Pied Piper who have had their best year yet where local businesses have raised thousands for the Pied Piper.

Here are just a few recent donations! Steve Gooch Estate Agents with a generous auction and other office activities - £7,000; a strong man competition at Simply Gym - £1,100; Burleigh Travel entertained with a sports dinner - £2,000; Randall & Payne baked, cycled and dressed up to raise £13,000 for Belmont school. On the golf course, Simplicity raised £6,000 on their inaugural day and Brunsdon Financial Services made a staggering £17,000 over 18 holes. There are many more!

And here is how some of that money has been spent! Just a few of the reent projects thanks to firms in Gloucestershire!

• St Roses, Stroud hoists in classrooms - £7,200
• Belmont School new playground with partners, Randall & Payne - £13,000
• Relax & View DVD system at GRH - £14,355
• Goals Beyond Grass football power chairs - £9000
• Jaundice metres at GRH - £9,080
• Early Years musical interaction systems - £5,000
• Bedside drug lockers for parents at GRH - £1,296
• NHS Nurse training courses - £3,000
• Treatment Room refurbishement - £10,700
• Couch & Blood trolley - £3,245
• Portable EEG monitor - £16,250
• Teaching laptop - £1,500
• Clics clean prep room - £9,426
• Special needs play equipment - £1,330
• IHC low flow blender equipment - £2,965

Nick Broady, charity chairman added: "You may remember we also pledged £500,000 over three years to the Chamwell Centre projects at Milestones children's centre. We are pleased to report we are well ontrack to completing the last outstanding payment of £110,000! To date this has been our largest single fundraiser project albeit over a couple of years."