A group of Downton volunteers are wrapping brand new toys to give to 300 local children today (Saturday December 18).

The Stable & Wick bakery and farm shop, Downton, will host the charity toy giveaway in collaboration with The Kindness Offensive, the world's largest performers of random acts of kindness, to spread festive cheer.

Every year, The Kindness Offensive distributes tens of thousands of toys to deserving children in the UK.

James Light, Verwood-based filmmaker who grew up in Ringwood, has helped co-ordinate the toy giveaway in London for many years.

He said he wanted to bring the initiative to his local area.

"The Kindness Offensive has been going since 2008. Most years since then, we have done a toy giveaway. I wanted to do something local but never really found a space," he said.

"A friend - Louisa Parry, owner of Stable & Wick - offered up her barn space, as she had started up a new business, and it seemed like a perfect fit."

Volunteers will sort and wrap the toys, which were donated brand new by a toymaker, in the morning.

Local charities Julia's House Hospice, Rainbow Trust, two branches of the Salvation Army, Salisbury Toy Appeal, and Downton for Families will then collect in the afternoon to distribute to children in the area.

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