AN appeal aimed at raising enough money to give Christmas presents to more than 1,500 underprivileged Bristol children has been officially launched.

The Lord Mayor's Christmas Appeal for Children is expected to raise up to £45,000 to buy toys and clothes for children who would otherwise not receive any gifts.

The annual appeal, which has been running since the 1920s, was launched last night at Wongs Chinese restaurant in Denmark Street, at an event attended by more than 100 people.

A team of volunteers will collect donations for the appeal until Christmas Eve. The money raised will pay for gift vouchers which 1,650 needy children can use to buy clothes and toys at various participating shops in the city.

As part of the appeal, a "carol bus" will travel through the city from Clifton to Cabot Circus on December 16, with 10 volunteers stopping to collect money in tins at various points along the way.

The bus will leave the Downs at 4pm and travel along Whiteladies Road and Park Street, then pass through the Centre before stopping in Broadmead. Former Lord Mayor Peter Abraham said: "We write to a lot of companies asking for a donation. We get help from the Rotary and Lions clubs collecting donations. They will be out in the shopping centres in the next few weeks shaking their tins for the Lord Mayor's Appeal.

"There are a lot of children out there who wouldn't get a Christmas present unless we got them a voucher. There are lots of kids in need. We get their names from social services and the authorities. They tell us who the people are – the recipients are genuinely worthy."

Cheques for the appeal should be made out to the Lord Mayor's Christmas Appeal for Children and sent c/o the Lord Mayor at the Mansion House, Clifton Down, Bristol BS8 3LJ.