CHRISTMAS is coming soon – but at one Helensburgh toy shop, amid the excitement, thoughts are turning to children for whom the magic of the season is all too often a distant dream.

Grasshopper Toys has launched its annual toy collection for children who might not otherwise receive a gift at Christmas – and once again the Advertiser is backing the annual appeal.

All gifts handed in to the store in West Princes Street will be given to Children 1st, Scotland’s children’s charity, to be passed on to local families facing a difficult time this Christmas.

Wendy Hamilton of Grasshopper Toys said: “Every year we ask the residents of Helensburgh and Lomond to help us collect toys for disadvantaged children. This year our nominated charity is Children 1st who work with children who have not had it easy – in fact, they’ve usually had a pretty rough time.

“We’re hoping that together we can bring smiles to small faces.”

The collection will begin on Saturday, November 24. The team at Grasshopper are looking for donations of new and/or used toys suitable from birth through to 16 years old, and donations of gift wrap will also be welcomed.

Used toys must be in good and safe condition and should be taken to the shop at 112 West Princes Street, Helensburgh.

The collection will close on Sunday, December 16 in order to allow time to get the toys distributed to the charity and then on to the children themselves.

Henry Ainslie, group editor of Clyde Weekly Press, publishers of the Advertiser, said: “Children 1st perform a vital service for young people and families across Helensburgh and Lomond – and we are proud to support the 2018 toy collection campaign.

“Hundreds of children benefited from the campaign last Christmas, and I call on everyone to dig deep and help put a smile on even more deserving young faces across our communities this time round.”