FORMER lottery winners from Warrington have been busy helping to transform an area at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital.

John and Patricia Gill, who lived in Lower Walton when they scooped £1 million on the EuroMillions in 2015, joined other National Lottery winners who spent the day planting colourful borders alongside a new path and walkway at the children’s hospital.

The piece of land that the winners have been helping to transform is situated around the Alder Centre which is a bereavement unit.

As well as one-to-one therapy and counselling sessions, The Alder Centre also hosts bakery, art and a whole range of different courses to help and support both parents and siblings through bereavement.

It also acts as a base for calls from across the country to the Child Death Helpline.

Patricia said: “It is wonderful to think we can play a part in such a major building project and at such a prestigious location – not only in the UK – but across Europe.

“Everyone knows about Alder Hey and the tremendous life-saving work that the hospital does and to be able to help to create an even better environment for children and their families, really is a true honour.”

Ceri Roscoe-Roberts and husband Paul, from Conwy, who won £1M on EuroMillions in November last year, say they owe their youngest son’s life to Alder Hey after his pushchair collapsed with him inside and Ceri was forced to resuscitate him.

Ceri added: “Without Alder Hey my youngest would not be here today.

“The hospital does so much incredible work and I am truly honoured – thanks to my National Lottery win – to be back here today giving something back in terms of my time and contributing to a project which really will benefit thousands of people for many years to come.”

The team of National Lottery winners, who between them are worth more than £32M, spent a day planting a range of trees, climbers, grasses, bulbs and ever-greens which will flourish during the months ahead to bring smiles to the faces of everyone who visits the hospital.

Fiona Ashcroft, CEO at Alder Hey Children’s Charity, said, “We have been extremely grateful to have the lottery winners on site – they have certainly done an excellent job and played a very important part in developing our Children’s Health Campus here at Alder Hey!”

The vision for the Children’s Health Campus, located next to Springfield Park in the city, is to provide an innovative, vibrant and safe place with a focus on developing the very best health outcomes for children and young people. Over time, this will showcase Alder Hey as a leader in children’s healthcare on a national and global scale.