GENEROUS Evening Press readers will put big smiles on little faces at a York women's refuge this Christmas.

We launched our sixth annual Toys For Christmas appeal last week to help ensure children at the refuge did not go short of toys and games on Christmas Day.

We reported how, last year, one mother called Anne had been expecting it to be a "pretty horrible Christmas" until all the gifts arrived and gave the day a magical atmosphere.

Readers have responded equally quickly and generously to this year's appeal, with bag after bag and box after box of gifts delivered to our offices in Walmgate. A refuge worker who called in to collect the pressies was overjoyed. "This has restored our faith in the people of York," she said.

" It makes us realise there are still people that care - and their kindness will make the children happy." She said mothers at the refuge, run by Women's Aid to provide a safe haven for families escaping violent abuse, felt sad they could not provide fully for their kids themselves.

"But they'll be very happy their children are going to get proper presents, and they will be pleased about the overwhelming response from the public."

Updated: 10:50 Tuesday, December 24, 2002