A LITTLE girl with a big heart has collected more than 270 chocolate selection boxes to gift to sick children this Christmas.

Kelsey Mackay, six, from Catterick Garrison, asked her mum Kirsty Dickinson how she could help poorly children because she "didn't want them to be sad at Christmas."

Ms Dickinson said: "I'm an A&E nurse at Darlington Memorial Hospital, so Kelsey knows what a difficult year it has been. She asked me if children get sick at Christmas, and decided she wanted to cheer them up.

"She initially bought a few with her pocket money but then her cheerleading club, Lazer Cheer, donated some, as did family and friends.

"I'm so proud of her being so thoughtful and caring. She wants to go and deliver them herself, so we are going on December 23. She is very excited and is counting down the days.

"All of my colleagues have been asking when we are going as they all want to see her.

"She is also doing a reverse advent calendar to gift to veterans at The Beacon on Christmas Eve, which we do every year."