The Evening Gazette has joined forces with Tendring police in a bid to improve the lives of vulnerable children.

The division's domestic violence unit is desperately short of toys for youngsters to play with when they have to leave home quickly.

Sometimes there are just minutes to get a parent and child at risk out of a house and away from a violent situation

It can mean leaving everything behind, making children feel more vulnerable and alone.

PC Clare Scott and PC Debbie Banks, of the unit, are appealing to traders to donate toys for youngsters to play with while their parent is interviewed.

Children would also be allowed to take toys away with them when they make a fresh start in a new home.

"It would be really great if we could give them something special at a very difficult time in their lives," said PC Scott.

"We have had six children at the unit in the space of the past week and it would be nice if we could make the area they are in more child-friendly."

Police want to build up a box of small soft toys to help reduce the trauma of domestic violence.

Toys can be handed in at any police station across Tendring.

Published Friday July 9, 2004