A pub chain is launching a Christmas toy donation initiative for the fourth year.

Hungry Horse, which has The Vine Inn Pub Restaurant in Ower, is aiming to collect 5,000 toys in the first 24 hours of the Toy Boxing initiative, with a target of more than 20,000 donations in total.

The scheme has seen more than 30,000 presents donated since it began in 2021.

This year, the initiative follows research from the pub brand revealing nearly one in five UK parents (18 per cent) know a child who won’t receive a present on December 25 - an estimated 2.2 million children.

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TV personality Charlotte Dawson launched the campaign (Image: Hungry Horse) Popular TV personality and mum-of-two Charlotte Dawson launched the campaign by unveiling a giant toy donations totaliser, showing a running total of donated gifts. She said: "Christmas is the most magical time of year and, as a mum, I know how much it means for kids to have something special to open on the big day.

“No child should have to go without that moment of joy, which is why I’m so proud to support Hungry Horse’s Toy Boxing donation scheme once again, which is running for a fourth straight year."

To donate, people can head to their local Hungry Horse pub and drop any pre-loved, new or unused toys in the designated donation stations.