Rio Ferdinand donates £500,000 worth of toys to children who would otherwise go without at Christmas

Football legend also donates 11,500 sleeping bags to homeless

Rio Ferdinand claimed the whole ordeal had been 'comical' (Getty)

Rio Ferdinand has donated toys worth £500,000 to charity as part of a drive to ensure children do not go without presents on Christmas Day.

The former Manchester United footballer made the donation to Key 103’s Cash for Kids and the Mission Christmas Appeal campaign.

Ferdinand, a father of three, announced his donation live on Key103, telling the presenters: “There are people that are less fortunate than we are so we want to try and help them. We are donating £500,000 worth of toys and gifts."

“We have got to get behind this,” he added. “Manchester has got to get behind what we are doing. We are trying to help people.”

He has also donated 11,500 sleeping bags for homeless people living in Manchester, the Manchester Evening News reports.

Ferdinand established the Rio Ferdinand Live the Dream Foundation in December 2009, a charity which aims to support young people from economically deprived communities break into sports and entertainment careers.

His wife Rebecca Ellison died from breast cancer in March 2015.