PUPILS from a Baildon school brought some festive cheer to patients at a Bradford hospice.

A group of 13 youngsters, aged between five and 11, from Hoyle Court Primary School handed out 20 Christmas presents to patients at Marie Curie Hospice in Maudsley Street.

The presents were funded by £362 raised at a non-uniform day held at the Fyfe Grove school in aid of Marie Curie in October, where pupils wore yellow.

This fundraiser was the idea of Hoyle Court pupil Benjamin Fisher, nine. His mother Emma Fisher, 36, works as a nurse at the hospice. His brother, and fellow pupil, Samuel, seven, also helped with the fundraising and was also part of the visit.

The brother’s great-grandfather, Alan Edwards, who had lung cancer, was a patient at the hospice in 2015.

Benjamin said: “I hope the presents make the people here happy, because for some of them it might be their last Christmas.

“If it makes them smile, even for a second, that would make me happy.”

Mrs Fisher said she was proud of her sons for their kind-hearted gesture and handed out the gifts with members of the school’s council yesterday.

She said: “I’m so proud of Benjamin for coming up with the idea.

“He remembers visiting his grandad when he was here and how amazing everyone at the hospice was.

“Ever since, he has wanted to give something back and I think this is a lovely way to show his appreciation and make Christmas that much more special for the patients.

“For many, Christmas is a time for spending at home with loved ones.

“However, not everyone has the chance to do that. Some of the patients at the hospice may be too poorly to spend time at home but the children didn’t want them to miss out.”

The gifts were delivered to both in-patients at the hospice and day therapy patients who visit the site each week.

Patient Pamela Bent, 57, said the children’s visit was a pleasant surprise for her.

She said: “I did not expect to get a present, it’s wonderful.

“It’s great that they have given us an early Christmas present.”

Headteacher Tim Phillips said: “We were happy to help out at Christmas.

“If we can add these opportunities for children to get out there in the community and contribute, then that’s fantastic.

“This is about raising awareness of the different lives people lead, particularly at this time of year.

“It shows that there is more to school than reading and arithmetic for the pupils. It’s about making the children feel part of the community and feel they can help make a difference.

“Coming to the hospice makes it real for the children. They have been very mature and understanding about it.”