MORE businesses have thrown their weight behind the Dorset Echo’s Christmas Toy Appeal.

Portland Stone, Rob Collings Sales, Fish ‘N’ Fritz, and Coyne Butterworth and Hardwicke chartered accountants have all signed up to our ‘Ten for Ten’ scheme.

The scheme is marking the 10th anniversary of the appeal.

The idea is to find 10 companies to donate £100 to put towards gifts and toys for less fortunate children in the area.

The four firms have joined DJ Property, Stylish Stitches, Ladies Alive and RiskSTOP Group who have also donated to the appeal.

Paul Hall, of Weymouth’s family-run Fish ‘N’ Fritz, said donating the money will help bring the magic back to Christmas.

He said: “Some of these children will not be expecting any gifts and so this will come as a surprise.

“It will seem as though all of a sudden they have some presents from Father Christmas to open and I think that is pretty magical.

“We really felt that £100 was such a small price to pay to make such a big difference.”

Marianne Smith, of Weymouth-based Coyne Butterworth and Hardwicke, added: “It is great to support the major country-wide charities, but it is also nice to be able to help a cause that is closer to home like this one.

“I saw the article about the other companies who have donated £100 and we just thought it would be a nice thing for us to do.”

John Nash, owner of Portland Stone, said he decided to donate the £100 after reading an article in the Echo about Mickey Jones of DJ Property who decided to support the appeal.

Mickey’s father David Jones, who passed away in 2007, helped the Echo launch the Christmas Toy Appeal with a generous cash donation a decade ago.

Mr Nash knew David well and that is why he donated the £100.

Rob Collings, who runs a Dorchester-based mobile van sales company from home, has also backed the appeal.

He said: “Last year I put some presents in the toy appeal bins but when I saw this ‘Ten for Ten’ scheme advertised I thought this would be a lot better.

“I’d like to say for those companies that can afford to donate £100 to please do so because it is for such a good cause.”

n If you own a business and would like to donate £100 to our Christmas Toy Appeal, please contact the Echo’s promotions manager Debbie Hellaby on 01305 830815.

If your children have benefited from our toy appeal and you’d like to share your story, call Lucy Pearce on 01305 830982.