BATHTIME for young patients in one hospital is a lot more colourful, thanks to a local artist.

Steve Robson, from Ingleby Barwick, has given the children's ward at the James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough a splash of colour.

Polar bears, penguins and dolphins now adorn the bathroom walls of two suites, the corridor has been brightened up with a mural, and a treatment room has been spruced up with a hide-and-seek theme.

Nursery Nurse Jan Murphy said: "Both myself and another nursery nurse knew of Steve's work, as he'd decorated rooms for friends' children and they were fantastic.

"Another colleague, Eileen Middleton, secured some sponsorship from a variety of sources and it went from there.

"We really wanted the area to be more child-friendly and we've found the designs are a welcome distraction, particularly for some of the younger children who might be quite distressed when they come in for treatment."

Mr Robson, 43, has now turned his attentions to transforming the paediatric day unit and waiting area.

"I'm a traditional sign-writer by trade, but did my son's room and included the photographs in my portfolio and work took off."