AN ORGANISATION which has spent years bringing joy into the lives of children with special needs in Bradford district is celebrating its 40th anniversary.

The Bradford Toy Library, which was set up in 1975, is a charity based at the child development unit at St Luke's Hospital in the city and is a lifeline for many youngsters and their families.

It provides - for free - a variety of toys, specialist toys, books and play equipment for more than 400 families that are on its database.

Up to four toys and one book can be borrowed for up to one month at a time, for free, and all the toys are loaned out in themed boxes or bags. They also offer a deliver and collection service.

Now, the charity is gearing up to celebrate its anniversary with a party on January 23 - and past and present members have been invited to join the celebrations.

Michelle Neale, who is joint co-ordinator of the charity with Emma Fawcett, said of the 40-year celebration: "We are really pleased that a small charity is still here after all this time. To still be here 40 years after the original idea is amazing.

"It was set up because there was a need for toys for children with special needs."

Mrs Neale, who has been with the toy library for seven years - Mrs Fawcett has been there for 17 years - said the type of equipment they have has evolved dramatically over time.

"Forty years ago we had a room full of toys from the time," she said. "Parents came along and borrowed toys.

"Now, parents borrow boxes of toys that help with certain skills. We also have things like iPads and Kindles that we loan out. We also have specialist toys that are expensive for parents to buy.

"We have boxes to help with all areas of development, if a parent and child are working towards something with a physio, occupational therapist or speech and language, just speak to us, we might be able to help. We can offer bubble tubes, fibre optic tails, blackout dens, UV products and lots more."

But she added: "Some of the toys we have now were probably here 40 years ago but in a different colour."

The work of the toy library - which also provides activities for groups such as carers and teenagers - has long been supported by people, schools and businesses in Bradford.

In particular back in February 1982 after the charity had been targeted by burglars who broke in three times in a two-week period and stole toys that were used as educational aids.

Empire Stores Ltd, of Canal Road, Bradford, stepped forward after reading a report on the thefts in the Telegraph & Argus and provided "a load of toys" - including pedal trucks and electronic games - to replace those stolen.

Later that year, children at Gregory Middle School in Bradford helped buy a special tricycle by raising £300 through a variety of events. They followed that up with another £300 in 1986. In 1981, the school also donated £600.

At Christmas in 1987 the toy library was inundated with goodies thanks to generous T&A readers who responded to a shopping list appeal in the newspaper.

In May 1994, staff at Kirkgate McDonald's set themselves a target of raising £2,000 to buy toys for the library.

And just two years after the charity was set up, in 1977, men in drag competed in a sponsored football match against women wearing football kits, winning 10-6, in aid of the library following an appeal in the T&A.

Mrs Neale said the donations continue to come in, but that the charity still needed support to keep providing its service.

"It's all through donations," she said. "The NHS give us our room and utilities. Our wages, the toys, and activities we provide for families come from me and Emma applying for grants, funding and donations.

"We had a fantastic amount of toys donated before Christmas. We raised £1,000 from the sale of donated toys that families did not want anymore."

That money will be used to take some of the children and their families on trips to an adventure land and a pantomime. A trip to Center Parcs for 50 people has also been lined up.

"It is going really well," said Mrs Neale. "Obviously there are times when it's hard, but generally, it is going really well.

"We always want people to support us and to join our 12-strong committee - such as people who are members of the community who can help us."

The toy library's party is at Hollins Hall Hotel in Baildon and will feature a DJ, magician and buffet.

Mrs Neale said: "Current families and past families will be there, as well as paediatricians, occupational therapists and charities we have worked alongside.

"We would still like to invite past members and people who have worked alongside the charity during this time."

Also expected to attend are supporters such as Leeds businessman John Samuel and representatives of Bradford-based Sovereign Health Care, as well as the parents of a girl who helped open the library in 1975.

Mrs Neale and Mrs Fawcett have more than 20 years' first-hand experience of working with children with special needs. Alongside the toy library, there is the Laura Jackson Library, which offers a range of up-to-date books on subjects such as autism, cerebral palsy, spina bifida, Down's syndrome and epilepsy, among others.

Anyone who would like to help and support the toy library can contact 01274 365463 or toy.library@bradfordhospitals.nhs.uk.