A KIND-HEARTED mother has hailed this year's Christmas toy appeal for children in hospital as the best yet.

Mandy Griffiths dropped off gift bags and toys at Worcestershire Royal Hospital's Riverbank Ward in around her seventh year of doing the delivery.

And Mandy said the response to a Worcester News article was so great that she needs to make a return visit to hand over the rest of the donations which have been collected from across Worcestershire.

The mother-of-four, who also juggles jobs as a school cleaner and self-employed housekeeper, said: "It's always amazing but this has been the most amazing so far because of the support I have had.

"I've been doing it for about seven years and this is the best response I have had. We had so many gift bags and toys that we filled a whole room at the hospital.

"We had that much which is just amazing in a cost-of-living crisis when people are struggling.

"We put out the appeal with flyers, in the paper and social media. Prior to the article in the Worcester News we were struggling but that really helped move things on."

Mandy, of Kidderminster, operates a Facebook page called 'community acts of kindness from 2019', which now has more than 740 members, and is looking into registering her appeal as a charity.

The latest response from the public and businesses saw the 43-year-old sleeping on the sofa as her bed was covered with donated toys while Mandy's young son helped out with the 'Santa's Grotto'.

She continued: "I cannot even remember why I started doing this in the first place but it is just so rewarding.

"I've got children myself and thankfully they have never had to be in hospital over Christmas time.

"It was just an idea I had and when I started it went that well I thought I would carry on.

"This year with work it has been hard but I have had a hell of a lot more support. I can't do this on my own.

"I'd like to particularly thank Becky Mason, Adele Green, Aly Lench, Stu Ritchie, Kevin Andrews, Sam Andrews and everyone who has volunteered or donated.

"I was going to move on and do something else next year but I don't think I can now!

"I do like to help people as I know what it's like to struggle and suffer.

"That makes me go further knowing it will make a difference."