POLICE officers and hospital staff have brought smiles to the faces of sick children at Worcester Royal Infirmary.

Thieves stole a box of presents from the children's ward at Ronkswood hospital - but the theft was not discovered until just before the Christmas party.

Worcester police donated £100 from the Police Community Fund to replace the presents after the theft was reported.

"This is quite an emotive thing," said PC Liz Northcott, beat manager for Ronkswood. "The fact that the presents were for ill children makes it more devastating."

The presents were due to be given to the patients on the Rainbow Ward at their Christmas party last Wednesday.

But gifts due to be handed out on Christmas Day were used instead.

"We've been fund-raising throughout the year and buying presents as we went along," said ward play leader Joy Powell.

Nice surprise

"I was very disappointed to find the presents were gone. I'm glad I had other presents to give. It was two hours before the party and it threw me into chaos."

The presents were for children of all ages and included jigsaws, games, books and toiletries for the teenagers on the ward.

Past patients of the ward also went to the party and received gifts bought especially for them.

"They all had a good time at the party," she said. "This donation's a nice surprise. It shows that people can be very generous."

Staff at the hospital have also donated to the fund and the police cheque could be used to help fund next year's presents.

"We buy presents for both occasions every year and we feel very angry that someone has deprived the children of their toys," said Richard Haynes, of the Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust.