CHILDREN at the Royal Bolton Hospital were left beaming with joy when they received a special festive treat this week.

Big-hearted volunteers from the Bolton branch of Islamic charity the Al-Khair Foundation paid a visit to the hospital’s children’s ward to hand out gifts and goodies for Eid.

Nurses, doctors and staff were also treated to boxes of sweets and chocolate from Al-Khair’s Bolton branch manager Aslam Atcha, his niece and nephew Maryam and Muawiyah Musa, and volunteer Zaid Musa.

Mr Atcha said: “The children’s ward is a really good ward and they really look after you there, and I know that from personal experience as my child has been there. So we wanted to give something back and I thought what better way than with gifts.

“The kids and the hospital absolutely loved it. They were really happy and it put a smile on their faces when we went round the ward.

“Parents were astonished that we were there on our Christmas Day handing out gifts. We even gave boxes of chocolate to staff as well, and they have sent us a really nice thank you card.”

The visit was the third year in a row Al-Khair have dropped in on the hospital to give out goodies for Eid.

The toys, games, sweets and treats given out were all funded by staff and volunteers at the charity who donate their loose change into a bucket at the foundation’s Derby Street hub.

Mr Atcha said that, particularly during Ramadan, the bucket fills up very quickly.

Marie Forshaw, deputy director of nursing at Bolton NHS Foundation Trust: “It was a pleasure to have a visit from the Al Khair Foundation this week and very kind of them to think of our young patients and include them in celebrating Eid-ul-Fitr.

“The children were very appreciative and excited to receive the gifts and we would like to thank the Foundation for visiting.”

The Al-Khair Foundation is a UK-wide Muslim charity which operates humanitarian projects at home and abroad.

In the coming months they are holding a range of fundraising events in the town, including a family fun day at Deane and Derby Cricket Club on June 23, and their annual football tournament on August 25.