An Oldham mum who has become known in the area for her Easter egg donations has started up her Christmas toy appeal, which has already received great support.

Sally Maher collected more than 4,000 Easter eggs which were donated to vulnerable adults and children in the borough earlier this year.

Now, she has begun her appeal to collect and deliver toys for Oldham children in need, with more than 100 local businesses helping to sponsor the effort.

Sally, 48, said: "I didn't think it would go so well in the first few weeks."

Businesses can sponsor the appeal for £20, which goes towards buying toys for young children who are unlikely to enjoy Christmas as much as many others.

Sally said: "Everybody is going to struggle this year.

"For a lot of children, this will be the only gift they get this Christmas."

So far, 103 local-based businesses have helped to sponsor Sally's effort and in her sixth year of doing the toy appeal, it is the first time she has asked businesses to get involved.

She has already collected 400 toys so far and is looking for that number to keep rising in the months running up to Christmas.

Sally, from Lees,  is donating the toys through schools and is looking to help at least one school in each area of the borough.

She said: "All I want to do is make a child smile in Oldham.

"Christmas should be a magical time but for some children it is not a good day and I would like to try and change that."

Sally's efforts of helping bring smiles to children's faces has seen her become well known in the borough as her cause continues to resonate with residents.

She said: "I was in Tesco getting toys when I met a man and explained what I was doing.

"He just gave me £20 to help as soon as he heard it, I was in tears."

Her efforts around Easter have led to her being called the Easter Bunny by children as more people in the borough have become aware of her efforts.

To help donate money for Sally's Christmas appeal, visit her Facebook page at Sally Maher or email her on sallymaher73@icloud.com.