A HERD of gift-laden Volkswagen Camper Vans arrived at Oxford Children's Hospital yesterday to surprise some of the county's most poorly children.

Nine vehicles filled to the brim with toys, games and other Christmas gifts arrived at the hospital to get the festive season under way on the wards.

The presents, which ran into the hundreds, will be distributed across the wards to those children who will be spending much of December in the hospital.

It is the first time the Oxfordshire VW Transporters Group has held its 'gift run' and organiser Sarah Corkery-Lloyd, from Carterton, hoped it would continue.

She said: "It's the first year we have done this and we hope it will become an annual event and keep growing.

"It's awful for a child to be in the hospital over Christmas and we hope these gifts will put a smile on their faces."

The VW enthusiasts have spent the last few weeks buying the gifts using a combination of their own money and also donations to a Just Giving page. 

The group, from all over the county and even as far as Swindon, congregated at the Peartree Services, north of Oxford, yesterday morning.

Having decorated their vehicles and packing them with presents they headed off in convoy to the John Radcliffe Hospital.

Play specialist at the hospital, Christine Turner, welcomed their generosity with open arms on their arrival.

She said: "The gifts are lovely and it really helps to get the wards into the Christmas spirit.

"December is a really busy month at the hospital and people are always so generous – and we are very grateful."

Oxford Mail:

Martin and Yolanda Hampshire, from Milton-under-Wychwood, dressed appropriately for the occasion as Father Christmas and one of his elves.

Mrs Hampshire said: "Christmas is such a special time of the year and we just thought about all those children who would be spending it in hospital. 

"It's nice to be able to do something for them and I'm just pleased we can make this time of the year that little bit better for them."

Carol Glidewell and Paul Patey, from Swindon, admitted they went 'overboard' on the presents.

Ms Glidewell said: "If what we have done can make just one child smile and brighten up their Christmas that's all we want.

"One of our grandchildren was born here and another is due shortly and we have a very special connection with the place and know how amazing it is.

The 52-year-old added: "We just kept buying more things every time we went shopping.

"We ended up with a range of presents covering all ages from 0-16 and it's really nice to be able to do something like this for the children in the hospital."