HIGH Street toy retailer The Entertainer has partnered with The Salvation Army to ensure as many children as possible in Oldham and across the UK have a gift to open this Christmas.

Running until Saturday, shoppers at The Entertainer’s outlet in The Spindles Shopping Centre in Oldham can buy an extra toy in store and donate it to The Big Toy Appeal. Customers can also buy a gift online from TheToyShop.com. Gifts will be distributed through the Oldham Roundthorn Salvation Army, 203 Roundthorn Road, to families who might not otherwise be able to afford to put Christmas presents under the tree for their children.

Together with the help of its customers, The Entertainer hopes to put a smile on the faces of thousands of children this festive season and is encouraging consumers to pick up an extra gift for a less fortunate child, with The Entertainer doubling the total number of donations.

Lieutenant, Jonathan Pitts, leader of the Oldham Roundthorn Salvation Army church said:

“We help lots of struggling families in and around Oldham throughout the year but Christmas can be an especially difficult time for many of them. "Thanks to the public’s amazing generosity The Salvation Army in Oldham is able to provide gifts for more than 1,200 local children who need them most.

“We’re so grateful to have The Entertainer partnering with The Salvation Army to help make it easier for people to buy and donate a toy in-store which they will then match. It will make such a huge difference to the amount of gifts we’ll be able to distribute to families in need this festive season.”

Gary Grant, founder and executive chairman of The Entertainer, said: “It’s heart breaking to think of so many children across the UK who won’t experience the magic of waking up to find a present waiting for them.

“Also, to think of their parents who will miss out on watching their face light up as they open it. That’s why we’re encouraging our customers to consider buying an extra present during their Christmas shopping to donate to a family in need via The Salvation Army. This will then be matched by The Entertainer allowing us to work together to transform Christmas for families who are really struggling across the country.”