People across the district are being asked to dig deep to save a charity which offers a vital lifeline to disabled children and their families.

Today the Telegraph & Argus launches an appeal to raise money to help secure the futureof Bradford Toy Library.

The charity lends out toys to stimulate and educate more than 1,000 youngsters with special needs and disabilities.

But it will close next March unless it gets an urgent injection of cash.

That's why the T&A is appealing to readers to back our Save Our Play Appeal to ensure the toy library's future.

Just £12,000 will keep the toy library going for another 12 months, covering its running costs, and helping to replace specialist equipment which families rely on.

The toys, bought by the charity which is based at St Luke's Hospital, can cost more than £100 each. Every penny over and above £12,000 that our readers manage to raise will make its long-term survvial more likely.

The library also lends mainstream toys, houses the Laura Jackson Book Library which offers useful information to parents and is linked to a variety of groups. Co-ordinator Emma Fawcett runs the library with Louise Horsfall - both of whom have children with special needs.

Emma said their existence had been hand-to-mouth for several years.

"It's very hard not knowing where the money is coming from. People are more willing to fund toys though they don't want to give money for salaries.

"But the library could not run without us - I just don't think it would function."

Bradford Council set up and funded the library about 20 years ago. But five years ago that cash stopped and Louise and Emma took over, securing money from a variety of sources.

Their bank balance is now perilously low and the wide-ranging benefits the toys bring are in jeopardy.

Emma, whose daughter Eleanor has autism, said many of the specialist toys were much too expensive for parents to buy regularly.

"A lot of children with special needs are also easily distracted - you could spend £30 or £40 on toys for Christmas for them and by the end of January they would be fed up."

The variety of toys means parents can try out several and see what their child likes.

They can also have a dramatic effect on development.

"When one little boy first came in he would not even look at you but now he is sitting up and very alert. It's really great to see them develop."

T&A Editor Perry Austin-Clarke said: "Bradford Toy Library is a real lifeline for dozens of children and their families - not only in terms of the equipment it gives them access to, but also because of the excellent support and information it provides.

"It's a vital service and we're sure our readers will rally to the cause to raise the money needed to secure its future.

"By setting out to raise at least £12,000, our appeal will provide the money needed to cover the costs of the service for another 12 months and give staff the opportunity to pursue other funding opportunities.

"Every penny we raise over and above that will be a further boost for a truly deserving cause."