Kind-hearted readers have helped bring some Christmas cheer to victims of domestic abuse.

The response to our annual appeal for gifts for children and mums at the Women's Aid refuge in York has been the best yet.

Generous readers bombarded our reception in Walmgate with cuddly toys, games, sweets for children as well as individual presents for mums - which will be given out on Christmas morning.

The Evening Press has been running its Toys For Christmas appeal for four years, and workers at the refuge say they have been overwhelmed by the kindness of readers.

The donated gifts filled a minibus and the sheer volume made it the most successful appeal so far.

"We are absolutely overwhelmed by people's generosity. It's incredible," said a worker for Women's Aid.

All staff remain anonymous to protect the safety of women at the refuge, which is at a secret address in the city and can host up to eight families.

"It means we will be able to give them as normal a Christmas as they can hope for," she added. "These gifts mean the women will feel that they are held by the community - that people are thinking about them, that people care."

Many of the women and children at the refuge come to York from elsewhere, fleeing violence at home.

Several will arrive with no belongings.

"We have women who have arrived this week just with the clothes they are wearing, with no money, nothing," said the refuge worker.