An annual toy collection, which has taken place in Watford for more than half a century, has received hundreds of donations this year.

The Toy Service took place in Garston on Saturday, where hundreds of toys were donated by members of Stanborough Park Seventh-day Adventist Church.

They will be added to Santa’s sleigh to be delivered to local families in need before Christmas.

The service was started by the late Alf Kelly, has been an annual event at the church for more than half a century. It is now organised by his daughter Pat Walton, who lives in Garston and has been a life-long member of the church.

June Coombs, from the church, said: "The event is still an important event in the calendar and the members’ generosity continues despite the recession.

"Pat was very pleased with how the event had gone and remarked that there were significantly more toys donated than usual."

Accepting the toys on behalf of the mayor of Watford was councillor Ian Brown, who said he had attended the event many times before and, for him, it marked the beginning of Christmas.

The toys were collected by representatives of charities such as the Women’s Refuge, children’s centres, schools and clinics.

Ms Coombs added: "They were absolutely thrilled to have them available to give to local families in financial difficulties who would otherwise struggle to give their children the kind of Christmas they would like to give them."

Watford’s MP Richard Harrington also took part in the service having earlier taken part in "Operation Rudolf", a scheme which distributes Christmas parcels to Watford’s elderly.

The main speaker for the event, Pastor Paul Lockham, Assistant President of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the British Isles, who spoke on the subject of gifts and giving.

His grandfather, Pastor J. MacMillan, gave the main address at the Toy Service in 1967, which Paul attended as a young child.