Wealthy 'secret santas' spread cheer

Toy shops have reported an increasing number of wealthy "secret Santas". Photo / Thinkstock

America has a new Christmas tradition. Wealthy "secret Santas" are paying off toyshop bills to spread festive cheer and help struggling families.

In the biggest windfall, a visitor described by staff as a "bubbly older woman" hugged the manager at a store in Boston and went through each layby account paying them off - at a cost of more than US$20,000.

"If you have it, give it" said the anonymous woman, according to the Milford Daily News.

An employee said the woman told her she would "sleep better at night" knowing all the bills had been settled.

Toy shops have reported an increasing number of "layby angels" in recent years.

A customer whose tab was paid described her delight when she received a phone call telling her a stranger had paid her bill and she could collect the toys for her sons.

"I almost wanted to cry," she said. "It was only $50, but to me that's a lot of money."

Celebrities have joined in, with a string of American Football players paying off bills.