Hundreds of donated new toys will soon be loaded on to Santa’s sleigh and winging their way to needy children in Watford.

Members of Stanborough Park Seventh-day Adventist Church in Garston have been donating toys for more than half a century since the annual event was established in the church’s calendar by the late Alf Kelly and continued now by his daughter, Pat Walton.  

Watford’s Mayor, Dorothy Thornhill, has attended the event for many years, and said: "I feel Christmas has begun when I come to your Toy Service. It is not a civic duty but a pleasure." 

Pointing out that so many of us are fortunate to have so much she added "there are still those who have so little".

Church pastor, Jacque Venter, remarked in his sermon that he had yet to find a church "as willing to give as much as you give in time, and money," adding that it was a "blessing to be part of a congregation willing to give."

The toys were collected over the past few days by representatives from Watford’s Refugee Centre, Women’s Centre and staff from Berrygrove Children’s Centre and will be distributed to known needy cases in time for Christmas. 

Organiser Pat Walton said: "It is always amazing the number of Toys we receive to give away. How many - I have no idea. It is a joy to see how the toys come in and an even bigger joy to see them go out to the needy families."