MOST children take pyjamas for granted and the jazzier they are, the better.

PJs come in all colours and designs, many with motifs or the latest cartoon character on the front.

But for many youngsters in Romania, pyjamas are a luxury.

And when their parents have to decide between buying food or nightwear, food comes first.

Now a Bolton childcare expert is hoping to tug at the heartstrings of local people and help to provide much-needed pyjamas for children in a Romanian hospital.

Liz Tatman has been teaching staff at a children's hospital in the North-eastern town of Iasi and it was on one of her visits that she noticed the lack of nightwear.

She said: "I'm hoping to provide enough pairs of pyjamas for all the children in the hospital."

Liz has launched her appeal through Rotary and hopes BEN readers will support her.

She said: "Perhaps grandparents will be buying their grandchildren new pyjamas for Christmas and the old ones can be donated to the appeal."

Liz is looking for good quality pyjamas, "not tatty ones", to fit all ages from one to 16.

She hopes kind-hearted people will donate 50p with each pair of pyjamas to pay for transportation from Bolton to Romania. She said: "When I last went to the hospital I noticed that pyjamas were very scarce.

"If the children were wearing pyjamas it was mostly the standard striped ones provided by the hospital.

"If we could give the children more original designs, and individual styles, it would help their self-esteem, which is really important.

"For some of these children it would be a treat because they don't have pyjamas."

The nightwear will be sent out to Romania in February or March next year so there's plenty of time for readers to root out good quality pyjamas their children have grown out of.

Anyone who can ring Liz on 596246 for details.