Calling all Parents! This Easter, the British Heart Foundation is coming to the rescue of parents nationwide, asking them to clear out all those pre-loved toys at home and help raise funds for vital heart research.

From cuddly toys to train sets - and everything in between - this Easter, the British Heart Foundation is appealing to parents across Britain to stop tripping over those pieces of Lego and call its dedicated team of toy collectors.

To coincide with the Easter break, from Monday 8th April until Friday 12th, the BHF’s nationwide fleet of van drivers will be poised to swoop in and collect toys big and small, with all items donated going towards helping the charity’s research into beating heart disease.

The BHF is asking generous donors to use the #MyToyStory hashtag on social media and tell us a bit about the toy they’re donating. Or why not label up your item and tell the new owner a bit about where it came from.

Allison Swaine-Hughes, Retail Director for the British Heart Foundation, said: “As a parent I know how easy it can be for toys to end up piled everywhere – with some not played with for months! The British Heart Foundation Toy Amnesty is here to help clear out those toys that are ready for a new home and a whole new set of adventures. Call the BHF for a free collection or pop in to one of our 550 shops and donate in person – you could even pick up one of our donated toys at the same time. Every item sold in a BHF shop helps us to raise even more funds for our life-saving heart research.”

And it’s not just toys for little ones, eBay Toy Expert at the British Heart Foundation, Chris Walker says collectable toys are just as popular: “Items such as Polly Pocket, Subbuteo, Corgi cars, Transformers, Star Wars and Lego, are all big sellers for us. They often have cult followings and are in demand from collectors. Toys from the 80s and early 1990s are popular too as a lot of the people who were children then have now grown up and become nostalgic for their childhood. Items like Sega and Nintendo are always welcome!’

Last year the BHF made £3 million from the sale of toys alone. Donate your pre-loved toys to your local British Heart Foundation shop and you can help the millions of children and adults across the UK living with heart and circulatory disease.

Simply request a free pick up and BHF will do the rest! To book a free collection, call: 0808 250 0220 or find your nearest shop at www.bhf.org.uk/shop. More information here: www.bhf.org.uk/toyamnesty

The Easter Toy Amnesty is here!