JIM Wells and his band of Santa's helpers are going to pieces -- thousands upon thousands of pieces.

And it's all because Bolton Lions are determined that no deprived child in Bolton will get second best this Christmas.

Each year, the Lions and the Bolton Evening News join forces, hitch up the reindeer and organise the Caring Christmas Appeal.

Each year the generosity of BEN readers leaves us astonished and some of the Lions volunteers close to tears.

People of all ages don't just give good-as-new toys for less fortunate children, they buy new ones too.

But to make sure that no child ends up disappointed on Christmas Day, Jim and his helpers insist on doing an MoT on every single one of the used toys and gifts that are handed in . . . . including THE JIGSAWS.

If that means making up a 5,000 piece jigsaw to guarantee that not a single piece is missing, Jim just gets down to the task.

"It's one heck of a job, but if there is one jigsaw piece missing or a page missing from a book, they don't go out," said Jim, who has been co-ordinating the appeal for 16 years. "And if a toy is broken, it doesn't go out if we can't mend it."

"Last year I had to clear the floor and make up a jigsaw 12 foot long just to make sure it was all there."

THESE members of Bolton Lions can be contacted if you need someone to collect larger items for the Appeal:

Blackrod -- Ken Mather tel. 01204--695860; Horwich and Westhoughton -- Brian Mann 698273; Astley Bridge and Halliwell -- Jim Wells 307949; Chorley Old Road -- Kerry Hepolette 840791; Bromley Cross -- Douglas Darroch 301827; Breightmet and Tonge Moor -- John Archer 527253; Great Lever -- Robin Smith 524011; Egerton and Dunscar -- John Fairhurst 592754; Deane and St Helens Road -- Babu Roye 305585; Bolton Town Centre -- Dorothy Martland 373107.

COLLECTION VENUES

ASDA store, Middlebrook, Horwich

ASDA store, Farnworth

Alliance & Leicester, Bolton

Astley Bridge Post Office, Blackburn Road

Beefeater Restaurant & pub, the Old School house, Lee Gate, Harwood

Blackrod Health Centre, Church Street, Blackrod

Crompton Place Shopping Centre, Bolton

Cleartone Hi--Fi , Blackburn Road, Bolton

Edwards & Co, Market Street, Westhoughton

Edwards & Co, Blackburn Road, Bolton

Eight Till Late Shop, St Helens Road, Bolton

Gordon's showroom, Higher Bridge Street, Bolton

Horwich Resource Centre, Beaumont Avenue, Horwich

John Benyon, butchers, Highfield Road, Farnworth

Kirkby Central, Manchester Road, Bolton

HSBC (Midland Bank), Market Street, Farnworth

Nationwide Building Society, Newport Street, Bolton

News and Booze, 129 Deane Road, Bolton

Lostock Newsagent, St John's Road, Lostock

Railway Club, Green Lane, Bolton

Readey's Sports Trophies, Chorley Old Road, Bolton

St Andrew's Travel, Church Street, Westhoughton

Sainsbury's store, Moor Lane, Bolton

Conway's Toymaster, Market Street, Westhoughton

Village News, New Street, Blackrod

Village News, Darwen Road, Bromley Cross

Yorkshire Building Society, Mealhouse Lane, Bolton

P & D News, 1508 Junction Road, Lostock

Safeways store, Bury Road, Breightmet

Safeways store, Lee Gate, Harwood

S & C Norris, 91 St John's Road, Chew Moor, Lostock

Tesco store, Mansell Way, Horwich