YEOVIL pubgoers have been billed as 'some of the most generous locals in Britain' after making a huge donation to charity.

Regulars of the Bell Inn donated 400 toys to local charities as part of the Hungry Horse’s third annual ‘Toy Boxing Day’ donation initiative.

In total, almost 17,000 presents were donated nationwide as part of the scheme, a new Hungry Horse record. This is a significant increase on last year's figures, which came in at 10,000.

According to research conducted by Hungry Horse, 57 per cent of parents said that they were worried about being able to afford their children's Christmas presents in 2023.

Gemma Beresford, general manager at the Bell Inn, said: “We have a fantastic community here at the Bell Inn, so I was always confident that our customers would give it their best efforts.

“But the final figures are even more than we could have expected – we’re overwhelmed by the generosity of our customers. 

“We’re so glad that we were able to do our bit for the community and, ultimately, we hope that our efforts made a local child’s Christmas that little bit brighter.”

Sarah Williams, senior marketing manager for Hungry Horse, added: “We brought our 'Toy Boxing' initiative back for a third year running because, quite simply, every child deserves the joy of a present to unwrap at Christmas.

“We’re absolutely delighted to announce the final donation figures, with a staggering 16,986 presents donated nationwide – an impressive increase on last year’s 10,000. We’d like to thank every single person who contributed.

“We look forward to doing all again, even bigger and better, this year!”

The Hungry Horse website reads: "It’s been another busy year, with our fantastic pub teams collecting thousands (yes, thousands!) of your donations.

"They’ve been sorted, wrapped, and are now in the capable hands of brilliant local charities across the country.

"We wanted to say a massive ‘thank you,’ from all of us at Hungry Horse, to everyone who dropped off a board game, teddy bear or doll’s house. You’ve helped us make this Christmas even more magical!"