Young cancer patients at an Oxford hospital will be scooting their way back to better health thanks to a generous donation.

Micro Scooters will be a familiar sight to many.

The brightly coloured scooters have become popular with children, from toddlers to early teens, since they were invented in 2004.

But the Oxford Children’s Hospital (CHOX), which was handed a fleet of the scooters yesterday, will be using the toys for a different reason.

Physiotherapists at the hospital will use the scooters as exercise-through-play for children with cystic fibrosis, cancer and patients with neurological problems.

Helen Douglas, paediatric physiotherapist at the Oxford Children’s Hospital, thanked the Micro Scooters company for the four toys, two of which are for younger patients, and two for slightly older children.

She said: “Exercise is important for everyone, including children who are in hospital. Some of our patients can be in hospital for a long time so it is important that they stay as active as possible during their stay.

“It’s a fantastic way to encourage them to take part in exercise that is fun.”

Patient Stevie Bradley, 11, from Milton Keynes, was among the patients trialling the scooters.

Dad Steve said the donations were a good idea. He said: “Stevie has used one of those before at home. He had a lot of fun.”

CHOX is the latest in line to benefit from the Micro Scooters Scheme, which aims to work with every children’s hospital throughout the UK.

The founders of Micro Scooters, Philippa Gogarty and Anna Gibson, said the toys had been used by hospitals in Bristol and Northern Ireland as a fun way to transport nervous children to operating theatres.

Ms Gibson said: “Our aim has always been to see every child benefit from using a Micro Scooter.

“Not only is it great as a means of rehabilitation but also a lot of fun and something to take their mind off things.”