THEY might be superheroes all year round but patients and nurses at Oxford Children’s Hospital dressed up as such yesterday as part of a national play week.

This week is National Play in Hospital week, organised by the charity Starlight to encourage hospitals to put on a range of activities for its youngest patients.

Oxford Children’s Hospital led the way with a superhero-themed morning.

Play specialist at the hospital, Joanne Pinney, said: “We’re asking our patients, ‘If you were a ‘Superhero of play’ would your cape glisten with glitter and bright colours, would a paintbrush be your weapon of choice or would ‘The Xbox’ be the logo everybody knew you by?’

“I’m delighted that our team has got into the spirit - and the costumes.

“It has contributed even more to the fun.”

To make sure the Oxford Children’s Hospital charity can continue to fund toys and other equipment to make patients as comfortable as possible, donate to its 10 anniversary campaign at ourchildrenshospital.co.uk