THE countdown is on for the deadline to donate to a self-storage firm’s Christmas charity appeal.

Access Self Storage Basingstoke is holding the appeal in aid of St Michaels Hospice, with residents and businesses invited to drop off any toys, biscuits and chocolates at the firm’s site Rankine Road before December 15.

After this date, the donations will be handed over to the charity and raffled off to raise money for the Hospice.

Generous locals are challenged to beat last year’s collection, which saw more than 1,500 presents, including games, books, toys, clothing and even home-made creations given to charities across the country and the firm has said it has had a great response so far with so many gifts donated.

Access Self Storage Basingstoke store manager Mike Blaszkowicz said: “We’re seeing a great start to the collection thanks to the generosity of the community. When you think that in the past six years, 3,000 gifts have been collected nationally and half of those were from 2016, you can see how much the campaign has grown. We’re aiming to beat last year’s gift bonanza with all local donations going to St Michael’s Hospice. There’s two weeks left, so if you’d like to help, please pop in and drop off your donations of toys, biscuits or chocolates.”

All donations may be left at the reception of Access Self Basingstoke where they will be stored safely until they are delivered to St Michaels Hospice after December 15.