STAFF at an Elgin nursery are cycling all the way to Lapland to provide a festive boost to The Northern Scot Toy and Food appeal.

The youngsters and their parents at the Magic Roundabout in New Elgin are getting right behind the effort for a virtual cycle to Santa's spiritual home.

The charity cycle has already raised more than £600 towards our festive appeal.

Scotty the newshound paid a visit to the children and staff at the nursery this week to wish them good luck in their fundraising efforts.

The appeal across the Moray area has again captured the imagination of readers and will ensure a brighter Christmas for lots of children and their families and senior citizens.

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Referrals for support at this time of year will come through the Moray Council social work department which will distribute all the presents donated by readers between now and Christmas.

And this year we have a new appeal partner with the St Giles Centre Giving Tree coming on board.

To celebrate the new partnership, staff from The Northern Scot will host a collection point tomorrow (Saturday) from 10am to 4pm in the Santa's grotto in the centre, which is in the former Dorothy Jack retail outlet on the top floor of the shopping centre.

Scotty will be there at various points during the day to say hello to any young visitors with their parents.

All donations of toys, books, CDs, DVDs, toiletries and non-perishable food items will be gratefully received.

Steve Young, St Giles centre manager, said: "We are delighted to be in partnership with The Northern Scot this year and hope our customers and readers will give generously."

And Joe Millican, joint content editor of The Northern Scot, added: "The appeal is set to help more people than ever before."

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