Stepping inside Marjorie Butchers home is like seeing all your childhood Christmas wishes come true.

For one day of the year, the New Malden residents home resembles Santas grotto, bursting at the seams with brightly coloured gifts and toys.

The eponymous Mother Christmas and her team of helpers lovingly create the display for the public to view, before the toys are collected and distributed to 50 NCH projects throughout the south east.

Miss Butchers association with the childrens charity dates back to her childhood, but it was 58 years ago that she embarked on her first mission as Mother Christmas, after visiting an NCH home.

She felt an instant attraction to the children and offered to send them Christmas and birthday gifts.

She said: It mushroomed from there. Last year we had 4,004 toys. Every soft toy is hand washed, brushed and combed.

Nothing goes unless it is as new. Every jigsaw and game is checked and every doll and game has to be boxed.

Her impetus for continuing her work is a promise that

she made when she first started as a volunteer for the charity.

I vowed I would do something for the children every day of my life, so I try to keep that vow.

But the 90-year-old, who received an MBE in 1998 for her services to children, is also proud that she has touched so many childrens lives.

On Friday, Miss Butcher welcomed dozens of visitors who were captivated by

the magnitude of the operation.

Toys decked the hall and landing of her home and there were rooms dedicated to clothing, shoes and gifts.

Friends and wellwishers donate many of the toys, while the clothes and shoes are purchased with donations to the Christmas appeal fund.

By.Helen Barnes