A NEW toy library has opened in Chard this week, offering a large selection of toys and educational games available to hire free of charge.

Children’s charity Action for Children opened the Toy Library, at Avishayes School, this Tuesday, which will be run by Chard Children’s Centre.

The library is designed for parents of children aged five and under who can browse through a catalogue and borrow toys to take home with them.

The library will be open on the first Tuesday of every half term from 2.30pm until 3.30pm with the next opening on January 11.

Sharon Bell, Action for Children’s Project Worker at Chard Children’s Centre, said: “We know that many families struggle to buy their children a wide variety of toys so we have opened the Toy Library to take some of that burden away.

“There will be a range of soft toys and educational games on offer, which are really important to a child’s development during their early years.”

Chard Children’s Centre, is based in Millfield, and provides services to families in Chard and surrounding villages.

Services include early learning opportunities, family support, health services, training and employment advice and support for children with special needs and disabilities.

Sharon added: “We’re really pleased to be able to run this service for families in Chard and the surrounding area, and we only ask that they look after the toys and bring them back on time so that other families can benefit.”

For further information about the Toy Library, contact Chard Children’s Centre on 01460-65762.