LOCAL families had an early visit from Father Christmas when they visited Magna’s first toy fair at the Beach Hotel in Minehead.
 
Twenty families came along to receive an extra present for their children from Santa. 
 
Jennifer Price from Dunster brought her twin four year old girls, Clementine and Honey, to the event.  She said: “Magna organised some wonderful fun days over the summer and the children loved them.  We also went to the pantomime that Magna organised last year, so we knew this event would be good.
 
“We’re the same as many families and have to watch the pennies, so things like this do help.  And you even get to see Santa too!”
 
The event was the brainchild of Neil Bliss, resident and community involvement officer.  He collected money and gifts from staff and suppliers and put the whole event together with the help of his wife, Jayne.
 
Neil said: “We support the communities we are based in and thought it would be a nice gesture to help families with the cost of Christmas.  We’ve been doing lots of neighbourly things this year and this event brings it all to a grand finale.
 
“We asked our staff and tenants’ panel members to donate any new or very good second hand toys for the toy fair and we also bought some additional gifts with money they donated.  We would like to thank our suppliers who were extremely generous as well in donating money and toys so the event could take place: Andrew Anderson, County Contractors, Dulverton Children’s Centre, Exmoor Teddy Bears, Faithorn Farrell Timms, Jumpee Joes, Low Carbon Exchange Ltd, ROMPA Ltd, and Tom Williams.
 
“I’d like to thank Santa for coming along at such a busy time and our staff and tenants’ panel members who wrapped up the presents and gave them out ready for the children to open on Christmas Day.”