FAMILIES with unused toys lurking at the bottom of the wardrobe are being urged to dig them out and donate them for a good cause.

Toyshop chain The Entertainer, which has branches in Taunton, Yeovil, Keynsham and Midsomer Norton, has announced the return of its hugely successful initiative, The Big Toy Rehoming campaign, in partnership with The Salvation Army.

The campaign is running across all The Entertainer’s 172 stores and hopes people will have a new year clear-out of old toys - and prevent them going to landfill, while giving those in need a boost.

The initiative aims to reduce the number of toys that could find their way into landfill by giving toys no longer played with a new lease of life, whilst aiming to support the 4.1 million underprivileged children living in poverty across the country via The Salvation Army.

In June and September last year, donations from across the country saw The Entertainer rehome 16,000 toys, weighing in excess of 10,500 kilos, which could have found its way into landfill.

And Gary Grant, founder and executive chairman of The Entertainer said he hopes the scheme will be even more successful this time round.

“We are incredibly proud to announce the return of The Big Toy Rehoming campaign alongside The Salvation Army," he said.

"It has been especially brilliant to receive feedback from those both on the receiving end of donations and kind families donating, with words of encouragement and praise for the campaign.

"Last year was a phenomenal success and we hope to continue to increase the number generous donations we receive for 2020, especially as families look to declutter their homes after Christmas and make room for their new toys and games.”

Kirk Bradley, head of corporate partnerships at Salvation Army Trading Company, which operates the toy collections on behalf of The Salvation Army, said: “Donations from the last Big Toy Rehoming campaign hugely helped in continuing to provide practical and emotional support for vulnerable people in the UK.

"It’s such a worthwhile cause and we’re looking forward to the public joining in again as they declutter their homes after the festive season.”

The Big Toy Rehoming campaign will run until January 31. For more details, see www.thetoyshop.com/bigtoyrehoming.

Those looking to donate their toys to The Entertainer don’t need to worry about including packaging, however all toys must have a CE label or marking for safety reasons.