Thousands of flood-hit children will receive a Christmas gift after a regional daily’s readers donated more than £100,000 worth of toys.

The News & Star, Carlisle, extended its annual Christmas Toy appeal, usually reserved to help disadvantaged children across its patch, to provide presents for those affected by the recent flooding in Cumbria.

It is estimated around 7,500 children will receive a gift tomorrow as a result of the appeal’s success.

The campaign was run in association with radio station CFM.

Cumbrian Newspapers’ marketing and promotions executive Rachel Green, left, and Kelly Barlow, marketing data analyst, with some of the donations

Editor David Helliwell said: “Our readers and supporters have always risen to the challenge of providing for those children who would be without at Christmas.

“In light of the devastating floods we also wanted to do what we could to help those families that have been through a rough time in recent weeks.

“It should give everyone involved great satisfaction to know they’ve helped to make Christmas just a little brighter for so many families.

“Our thanks as ever to those who’ve got behind this appeal and made it such a success. It’s another example of the generosity of spirit so much in evidence this last month.”