A WIRRAL charity supporting children with a debilitating genetic condition has received a collection of toys that were donated during a fun day.

Amy & Friends - set up to provide comfort and support for victims of Cockayne Syndrome, which causes premature ageing – was named after Wallasey-born Amy Garton-Hughes and will use the toys at its Time For Me centre in Wallasey.

Tranmere Victoria Cricket Club also received a funding boost, which will be used to pay four months’ mortgage and to buy new carpet.

More than 1,000 people attended the family event at Victoria Park in Tranmere on August 23. Among the entertainment was a funfair, stalls and various activities.

Amy & Friends was set up in 2007 to help sufferers and their families across the world.

The organisation has raised money for medical research which has resulted in the ground-breaking identification of the carrier gene to enable the siblings of victims to be tested for Cockayne Syndrome.

The fun day was organised by Elizabeth Taylor, who told the Globe: "The funday was a great success. I have been along to see the work of the organisation and wanted to help."

After receiving the toys, Amy's mum Jayne said: "We've never had anything like this donation before, from somebody outside the organisation. It will certainly be of great benefit to people using the centre.

“Somebody from Liverpool John Moore's said it’s like a big family. It's a support group for siblings of people who have Cockayne Syndrome.

"As the mother of a disabled child, there’s no way all the children at once, so places like Time For Me is ideal.

"It's a club where people can get involved in all types of activities, like learning to play music.

"I think the kids have amazing fun at the club and a donation such as these toys will help them do that.”