THERE were toys galore for children in a Teesside hospital on Friday.

The young patients in the University Hospital of North Tees, in Stockton, were overjoyed when furniture chain MFI presented the children's ward with vouchers to pay for toys.

The firm had given hospital bosses £500 in vouchers for the Toys R Us store. These were quickly spent on books, dolls, train sets, jigsaw puzzles and arts and crafts.

Debbie Harrison, the hospital's play specialist, said: "Playing helps to bring a degree of normality to what can otherwise be a distressing situation. I have no doubt these new toys will bring hours of enjoyment to our patients."

The donation was made by the manufacturing arm of MFI, at the Preston Farm industrial estate, in nearby Yarm.