BOLTON Lions are working tirelessly to make this Christmas a special one for needy local children.

The charity workers were expecting the credit crunch to force more families to appeal for help and, so far, have received 100 extra names of needy children compared to last year.

Each year, The Bolton News and Bolton Lions run the Caring Christmas Appeal to help families who cannot afford to buy presents for their children.

Now the job of putting toys, games and gifts for older children in bags ready for delivery has begun at the industrial unit where the donations are stored and Lions have given up their own time to start the lengthy time-consuming process.

Kind-hearted readers of The Bolton News have been handing in presents and money to our offices in Churchgate but more is still needed.

Lion John Crompton said: “We were expecting this year to be difficult because of the credit crunch and we expected to have more families needing help.

“But once again the public of Bolton have been very generous and we are delighted people are continuing to support this very worthwhile cause. I do hope they will continue to help us.”

Churches have started to hold their annual “toy services” and congregation members have been collecting toys for the Caring Christmas appeal.

Children from St John the Evangelist Church in Breightmet donated a range of toys and gifts at their Sunday toy service and all will be gratefully received by families in the town.

But many more gifts and toys are still needed and, in particular, presents for older teenagers. Jason, aged 16, knows his mum will struggle this Christmas.

He loves music and football and his 17-year-old sister, Lauren, is mad on hair and make-up. With your help, Jason and Lauren, and other youngsters like them, will have a very merry Christmas.