A Christmas appeal has been launched in Torre del Mar to help families struggling with the rising cost of living give their children presents this festive season.

The initiative, promoted by the Instagram account Torre del Mar en tu Mano, is asking residents, businesses and companies to come forward with donations and practical support to help make Christmas special for children whose families are finding it difficult to cover the extra costs.

Toys, books and school supplies needed

Organisers are looking for donations of new toys, books, sports equipment and school supplies, including backpacks, pencil cases and arts and crafts materials. Local shops are also being invited to get involved by allowing residents to purchase gifts through their businesses and providing collection or storage points.

Companies and potential sponsors who can offer space to receive, store and distribute presents are being encouraged to contact the organisers. Other forms of support will also be welcomed. Volunteers are needed to help organise the collections and assist with handing out the gifts when the time comes.

Helping children enjoy Christmas

The appeal comes against a backdrop of rising household costs, which have made it harder for some working families to manage the additional expense of the festive period.

In their message, the organisers point out that families who have previously been able to afford Christmas without difficulty may now find themselves having to cut back, juggle their finances or even consider borrowing money to pay for everything.

However, they stress that a child’s excitement about Christmas should not depend on their family’s financial situation. A toy, book or other thoughtful gift can make a real difference to a child, and the initiative hopes to bring the local community together to help make that possible.

How to get involved

Anyone in the Torre del Mar area who would like to volunteer, donate presents or offer business support can contact Torre del Mar en tu Mano through its Instagram account. Further information about the initiative and its arrangements is expected to be shared in the coming weeks.

Residents who are able to contribute are being encouraged to get in touch and help turn the appeal into a community effort, giving more children the chance to experience the excitement of Christmas. This is a good plan for local charities and social groups to start planning for the Christmas season.

Property prices in Almuñecar are among the highest in Granada province, raising fresh concerns about affordability for local families and foreign residents hoping to buy a home.

Almuñecar has been identified as the most expensive town on the Costa Tropical for property purchases, with prices reaching €2,382 per square metre during the first quarter of 2026, according to figures reported by Granada Hoy. Today, the value is even higher and according to the latest September figures, the price has soared up to a whopping €3,293 per square metre.

The figure puts the coastal town ahead of Granada City, where the average stood at €2,258 per square metre. Across the Costa Tropical, the average was €1,829, while the provincial average was considerably lower at €1,467.

For anyone hoping to buy a permanent home in the area, the difference can add up quickly. An 80-square-metre property priced at €3,293 per square metre would cost around €263,440 before taxes, legal fees and other purchase costs.

Almuñecar property prices continue to climb

These figures come from an independant property-market index, so they should not be treated as a direct continuation of the first-quarter figures reported by Granada Hoy. However, they point to continued pressure on the local housing market.

Almuñecar’s appeal to international buyers, second-home owners and people seeking a Mediterranean lifestyle adds to demand for properties in the area. Its beaches, climate and established international community make it attractive to people looking for holiday homes or a permanent move to southern Spain.

What does this mean for local families?

Rising property prices can make it harder for younger residents and families on local salaries to buy in the town where they grew up. Foreign residents looking to settle permanently may also find that their budgets stretch less far than expected.

The issue is not limited to buying. Rental costs also affect people who cannot afford to purchase a property, particularly those looking for long-term accommodation rather than a holiday let. Although the figures alone do not establish what is driving prices, the gap between Almuñecar and the wider province raises questions about how accessible housing remains for people who live and work locally.

For prospective buyers, the challenge is finding a property that fits their budget in a market where advertised prices are rising. Do you think property prices in Almuñecar have become too expensive?

First proper snow of the autumn has arrived on Sierra Nevada’s high ground this weekend, turning upper slopes white just as the resort looks forward to the 2026/27 season. Snow started falling on Saturday above roughly 3,000 metres and increased significantly on Sunday, with the snow line dropping enough for flakes to reach Borreguiles at 2,700 metres at times.

Early flakes arrive on the high peaks

Local observers and the resort operator Cetursa confirmed the first autumn snow of the season began on the highest summits on Saturday and intensified today. Higher zones have picked up more than five centimetres in places, while snow has been falling steadily from around 2,600 metres upward. Granada city, by contrast, has seen temperatures drop into the mid-teens after a warmer spell earlier in the week, with the province under a yellow alert for rain at lower levels.

AEMET’s mountain forecast for the Sierra Nevada area points to cloudy skies and intermittent precipitation through Sunday and into Monday, with the snow line expected to hold or drop a little further. The same system has brought heavier rain farther down the slopes and across parts of Andalucia, while the peaks collect the white stuff that winter-sports fans have been waiting for.

Feliz domingo #SierraNevada
📹 18/10/2026 https://t.co/7iFaUWJloC

— Sierra Nevada (@websierranevada) October 18, 2026

What Cetursa and forecasts say

Cetursa, the public company that runs the station, has shared images and video of the fresh cover on the upper mountain. Staff note that the snow coincides with the final stretch of preparations for the coming season, including the recent close of early forfait sales. The resort is not yet open for skiing, and lifts stay closed until the planned start around 28 November, but the early arrival of natural snow is a welcome boost while teams ready snow-making equipment and piste work.

Forecasts suggest the intermittent snow will continue into Monday before conditions ease. For anyone planning a drive up the A-395 from Granada or Monachil, chains are still worth packing even this early, as higher sections can turn slick quickly once the temperature falls.

Good news for the upcoming ski season

Cayendo con ganas en este momento en Sierra Nevada. La cota de nieve ronda los 2600 m. Video de una de las webcams de Sierra Nevada. https://t.co/9N4zYA8FRb

— Rubén Pardo Martínez (@RubenPardoGeo) October 18, 2026

This early dusting sits nicely with the broader timeline for southern Spain’s main ski area. Last season the resort opened among the first in Spain in late November with solid cover in the Borreguiles sector; this year’s first autumn flakes arrive a few weeks earlier and give ground crews a head start. Readers looking for practical tips on getting there, where to stay in Granada or nearby villages, or what the pistes offer once the lifts turn can check our complete guide to Sierra Nevada. Anyone tracking how early snow has shaped previous openings will find last November’s update on the first major fall of that season useful background.

Official updates, webcams and the latest snow report are on the Sierra Nevada site, while AEMET’s dedicated mountain forecast gives the most reliable snow-line guidance for the next day or two. For many regulars who know the mountain, seeing the peaks white in mid-October is the usual signal that the long wait for the lifts is nearly over. For the rest of us, it’s a signal to get the duvet out!