Brecongate Directors buy entire contents of toy shop to give to families who need Christmas presents for their children

Brecongate Directors have bought the entire contents of a toy shop to give to families who need presents this Christmas.

Ryan Powell, owner of Brecongate, purchased all the toys left at D.Emlyn Lloyd in Ystrad Mynach for families in need following the announcement that non-essential retailers are to close.

Ryan and business partner Paul Jones decided to splash the cash to help beleaguered parents, many of whom had been waiting for their last pay-cheque to buy Christmas gifts only to see virtually all shops shut.

Ryan said: “I am an employer, we employ around 80 people. I know that many people are reliant on their last wage before Christmas to go shopping.

“I know there are people waiting for their Universal Credit and last wage who I thought will be struggling. My wife and I were thinking of what we could do to help when we saw D.Emlyn Lloyds post that they have lots of toys left for sale. I got in touch with them and said I will buy them all.”

The Pontypridd businessman arranged to purchase the toys at cost price, with the shop making no profits on the sale before sharing a post on Facebook urging families in need to get in touch with him.

He said the result was thousands of shares and hundreds of messages within minutes of the post going online.

“Trying to read through all the message to sort out who could get what, I was doing it with a lump in my throat and tear in my eyes, knowing the struggle people have been through this year,” he added.

To read the full story visit the Wales Online website.