TAUNTON Toy Library has been thrown a 'lifeline' with a £3,000 cash windfall from the County Gazette.

They were among around 40 organisations to apply for a grant from the Gannett Founation, the charitable arm of Gannett, owner of the Newsquest Media Group, which publishes more than 300 newspapers nationwide, including the County Gazette.

It provides funding support to local organisations in the areas covered by Newsquest papers and backs projects which take a creative approach to local community needs.

Taunton Toy Library will spend the money on an activity pack for 'rising fives' - including soft play activity toys, pop-up tents, and dressing up chests - and three new special needs activity packs, aimed at developing the skills of children with visual, hand/eye co-ordination and hearing needs.

Jubilant group chairman Ann Davis said: "It's a lifeline. We have not had funding for a couple of years and we have had to support ourselves."

Ken Bird, County Gazette editor-in-chief, said: "The money could not have gone to a more worthy cause - the new toys are sure to be enjoyed by children and their families around the area."

The library, which is based at Archbishop Cranmer School and has been running since 1975, loans toys to children aged six months to six years of all backgrounds and abilities for 50p a toy.

The service, which is popular with parents and grandparents, is open on Tuesdays and Fridays from 10am-12pm.

The toy library's was the only successful application in Somerset.

For more details, click on the Taunton Toy Library link below visit our Useful Local Links section.