Top toys come from Lees

LEES-BASED Character Group was named Toy Supplier of the Year the annual Toy Industry Awards organised by the British Toy and Hobby Association with the Toy Retailers’ Association (TRA).

The award, presented alongside the Toy of the Year and Retailer of the Year, was presented at Banqueting House in London following the first day of the 58th Toy Fair.

Acting TRA chairman Alan Simpson announced Character, which has its main trading subsidiary at Leesbrook Mill, for its winning Feature Plush Toy (Zhu Zhu Hamsters) and category-winning Pre-School Toy (Fireman Sam Deluxe Fire Station Playset).

Mr Simpson said: “There were many toys which could have featured in this year’s awards and it was an extremely difficult job to narrow down the list.”