A TEN-year-old girl is collecting presents for youngsters who will be spending Christmas in hospital after her younger brother had a spell on the children’s ward.

Oakwood Avenue Community Primary School student Freya Allen has been appealing for friends, family and fellow pupils to give generously to children who will be spending Christmas day in Warrington Hospital.

Freya’s presents drive was inspired by her eight-year-old brother Harry, who spent five days on the children’s ward last September.

A large collection of presents has been stacking up at their home in Padgate since Freya’s appeal began.

Mum Emma, of Belgrave Avenue, said: “She came up with the idea completely on her own because she just wanted to be kind at Christmas.

“Harry has been in hospital, and she thought it was really sad that children would be staying in there at Christmas so she wanted to collect some toys for them.

“He knows what it’s like to be in hospital and to have to stay over, and since Freya came up with the idea he wants to help as well.”

Freya and Harry will head down to the hospital on Saturday, December 17, to drop off their haul of presents.

Emma added: “Everyone has backed her up completely – it’s been lovely and everyone has donated stuff and been really kind.

“I’m dead proud of her as a mum and I just think it’s nice to do something like that at Christmas.”

Freya hoped that her collection would help to ‘brighten up’ the days of the children spending Christmas in hospital.

She said: “I just thought that it’s going to be a really sad time for them and their families and I just thought it would make them feel a bit better and brighten up their days.

“We’re really grateful for all the things that people have donated because if we’d bought all of them it would cost about £362.

“I would just like to say thank you for everything that has been donated and a merry Christmas to everyone.”

Anyone wishing to donate presents, which can be for youngsters up to the age of 18, can deliver them to the children's ward unwrapped but ideally with wrapping paper.

Donors are also asked to leave their name and address with staff.

Any remaining presents will be given to children who undergo painful or unpleasant procedures at the hospital and those who will spend their birthday on the ward.