A crowdfunding campaign has been launched for a new initiative to cut down waste by upcycling and reusing children's toys in Axminster.

The No Toy Left Behind scheme will see pre-loved toys repaired and refurbished to a high standard to help cut down on landfill waste.

It is hoped the project will encourage residents to give more thought to their buying habits and challenge the cultural norms of consumerism by offering clean, good quality, secondhand toys that will be giftable quality.

Organiser Beth Steele said: "Toys often contain mixed materials and types of plastic that at end of life cannot be recycled by our roadside collections or recycling centres. And, of course, new toys often arrive in layers of single use packaging.  

"Even when we are trying to live more sustainably new toys can still pile up at birthdays and Christmas.

"This is where No Toy Left Behind comes in! We will sell giftable, quality secondhand toys that have been graded, cleaned, pampered and presented so you can give them as a gift.

"We think a more sustainable gift option is really needed. In April this year we surveyed our community and the results showed that although nearly everyone was very happy to buy preloved toys, it was much less likely for preloved toys to be bought as gifts."

It is hoped the project will eventually be able to open a town centre secondhand toy shop in Axminster, with plans to run upcycling workshops and work in parallel with the newly-launched Axminster Repair Cafe.

They also hope to offer free toys to families in financial difficulties through the local food bank.

Support from Devon County Council

No Toy Left Behind has been selected to take part in Devon County Council's #BackTheFuture Climate Challenge Crowdfunder, supporting 10 community 'Planet Positive' projects to receive a total of £30,000.

Funding will be distributed depending on the amount of community support shown for each project, so No Toy Left Behind is now trying to raising its initial target of £1,000 through crowdfunding, which once reached will be match-funded by Devon County Council.

The council will then offer further financial support if higher targets can then be met.

You can find out more details on the No Toy Left Behind project at www.notoyleftbehind.com or to donate to the initiative visit www.crowdfunder.co.uk/help-us-launch-no-toy-left-behind