POORLY youngsters at the Oxford Children's Hospital were given a World Book Day surprise when volunteers passed through the wards to hand out sacks full of books and toys.

But Oxford Children's Book Group (OCBG), which organised the hand-out, had an extra challenge this year to make sure children got the literary gifts.

Normally the charity gives out collections of books, but this time they wanted to present young people with 'story sacks' with books, toys and activities inside.

The sacks usually contain presents such as teddies and other soft toys but these can carry germs and are therefore unsuitable for hospital wards.

So volunteers tracked down washable toys and props to fill 20 sacks ahead of handing them out at the hospital on Monday.

OCBG chairwoman Jackie Holderness was among those giving sacks out to children, something she has done in a range of settings before.

She said: "It's wonderful to see how excited children are to open the story sack.

"They love peering inside to see what treasures it contains.

"They always find a story book, together with a non-fiction book, characters or scenes from the story, games, toys and puzzles.

"All these props are designed to bring the story to life and give children ways to retell and re-enact the story.

"We hope that these sacks will give sick children hours of entertainment and educational fun, during their time in hospital."

OCBG always marks World Book Day and in the pats three years they have donated sets of story books to the Horton General Hospital in Banbury, Helen and Douglas House hospice and the John Radcliffe Hospital.

The group was approached at the end of last year by the John Radcliffe, where the Children's Hospital is based, to provide the special germ-minimising sacks.

Victoria Stoneham from the Oxfordshire Hospital School, which educates many of the children at the hospital, said: "We are so grateful to receive these incredible story sacks made by the Oxford Children’s Book Group who have been tirelessly putting together the story sacks since November.

"At the children’s hospital, we often teach children by their bedside.

"It is very important that anything we take to the children can be wiped down to reduce the risk of infection and one of the lovely things about these story sacks is that everything included can be wiped down, ready for the next child to investigate and enjoy."

This year the Oxford Children’s Hospital celebrates its 10th anniversary and the Oxford Mail is helping it to raise £2m towards a new 62-bedroom Ronald McDonald House for parents to stay close to their poorly youngsters and to fund other vital equipment.

For more information and to donate go to ourchildrenshospital.co.uk.