ITEMS have started to flood in to The Press as readers respond to our appeal to brighten up Christmas for some of York’s most vulnerable families.

Staff from Benenden Healthcare Society dropped off a bumper bundle of gifts to kick-start our annual Toys & Tins Appeal.

They donated about 150 toys and gifts suitable for children and women living at the York Women’s Aid Refuge, as well as three large boxes of food tins and biscuits for the Salvation Army, as it prepares to serve meals on Christmas Day and fill food hampers.

Neil Barnes, Benenden’s community relations executive, said: “Every Christmas our staff take it upon themselves to try and help the less fortunate in some small way. We hope the toys will make a real difference to the families at the York Women’s Refuge and that the food will help the Salvation Army put on an extra-special spread.”