PEEBLESSHIRE charity Home Basics is hunting for toys this Christmas.

As part of the forthcoming European Week for Waste Reduction, which runs from this Saturday, the furniture re-use charity is branching out into games, consoles and other quality toys.

Kate MacDonald from Home Basics told us: “The toys will be collected during November and will then be sold in December, in time for Christmas. It is estimated that every year 13 million toys end up in landfill sites, so why not recycle your old toys with Home Basics?"

“Research suggests that, in the UK, the average child has ten times as many toys as they need and that they only play with 10 per cent of them.”

Recent research conducted by Barnardo’s shows that many families living in poverty can have as little as £13 per day per person to spend on everything they need such as food, heating, clothing, electricity, transport and toys.

In response Home Basics wants to give families access to good quality used toys in time for Christmas.

Kate added: “By donating good quality toys you could help to give another child many hours of fun and enjoyment, whilst preventing waste going to landfill.

“Toys for donation must be in a good, safe and useable condition – no broken items.

“We can accept electrical items but no soft toys please.”

All electrical items will be tested before being resold.

Pupils at St Ronan’s Primary in Innerleithen had the opportunity to drop toys off at school throughout yesterday (Thursday) and today. And volunteers are waiting at the Walkerburn-based charity’s depot for any donations.

The toys collected will go on sale to the public on Saturday, December 5 at St Andrews Leckie Church Hall In Peebles, from 10 am until 4 pm.

Any left over toys will be available from the Home Basics’s Walkerburn warehouse until Tuesday, December 22.

The charity is particularly keen to hear from Child Minders and Nurseries who might want to replace their stock of toys.

Or if anyone is interest in setting up a Toy Library in the local area then please get in touch. For further details call 01896 870455.