A group of Leek businesses are once again clubbing together to raise money and gift donations for a local appeal for families struggling financially after another difficult year.

Dave Swarbrook and Mark Brammar, from the Creative Hub at the Foxlowe Arts Centre, are coordinating the appeal along with the Fox & Crow Gallery, which is housed in the same building.

The gifts collected will be donated to an annual appeal at Haregate Community Centre, from where they will be distributed.

As well as gift donations, the pair are hoping to purchase gifts using donated cash from independent retailers in Totally Locally Leek.

Dave said: “This is our fourth year of gift donations to the Haregate Community Appeal. Businesses and individuals have been incredibly generous in the past but Mark and I are quite competitive so we are working hard towards raising a bigger total this year.”

Laura Cottingham, manager at Haregate Community Centre, added: “We have contact through the centre with many families who are barely managing financially and are placed under even more pressure with the expense of Christmas.

“We collect gifts for children and young adults each year so that no one feels left out at Christmas.

“Last year the concerted effort from all the people at the Foxlowe added around 250 presents to our total and we are incredibly grateful to everyone involved to help make Christmas special for so many local families.”