Attention! Falkirk's toy soldier hunt is about to begin

Toy Soldiers will stand to attention in Falkirk town centre as seasonal shoppers enjoy a free competition as part of a new festive Toy Soldier Trail.

The trail, created by Falkirk Delivers working with local businesses, will starts on Friday and runs until December 22 and features a dozen toy soldiers hidden in shop windows across the town centre.

Each toy soldier has been given a name – picked by local children – and can be tracked down with help from a festive trail map which, along with an entry form, can be downloaded from the Falkirk Delivers website.

Entry forms will also be available at the Howgate Centre’s Help Desk.

Shopping local has never been more important, and we want families to enjoy the fantastic range of independent businesses that are sometimes missed just off the High Street.

Families are encouraged to explore the town centre and write the names of the toy soldiers on the entry form. Once the mission is complete, pop the form into the postbox next to the Howgate’s Help Desk for a chance to win a £15 Love Local gift card.

As a bonus competition, Falkirk Delivers want families to take a selfie with a soldier and share it on the Falkirk Delivers Facebook page for their chance to win a £30 gift card.

Elaine Grant, Falkirk BID manager, said: “The Toy Soldier Trail is just one part of our plans to help get the town centre full of the festive spirit. It’s a great way to get the Christmas shopping done using our fantastic local retailers and keeping the whole family entertained.

“We want to promote our shops and active lifestyles and the Trail offers both these benefits whilst bringing some Christmas cheer to the town.”

Visit www.falkirkdelivers.com for more information or to download an entry form.

Falkirk Delivers and the Howgate Shopping Centre are also launching the 18th annual appeal for Christmas presents to help disadvantaged youngsters enjoy as wonderful a festive season as possible.

Shoppers are being urged to buy a brand-new toy or gift – including presents suitable for teenagers – for the appeal.

Mrs Grant said: “Every Christmas children suffer through no fault of their own and this year, with COVID-19 and redundancies affecting families across Falkirk

District – more parents than ever will be struggling to buy gifts for their children.”

Town centre businesses are supporting this year’s appeal, which for the first time has an online option. More people than every are working from home and many do not feel comfortable shopping for gifts, so they can now support local children by making an online donation.

Margaret Foy, Howgate marketing manager, said: “Just one present can give youngsters self-esteem, knowing they have something to unwrap and can tell their friends what they received.

“Every child deserves the joy of opening a gift and we want to support local families who have more than enough to deal with this year.”

The Collection Pot donations will be loaded onto a town centre gift card and distributed in time for Christmas.

Visit www.towncitygiftcard.collectionpot.com/pot/falkirk for more information.

Closing date for donations is Sunday, December 13.