ARTWORKS produced by schools across the city are brightening the lives of patients and visitors at Bradford Royal Infirmary.

Pupils at Margaret McMillan Primary School, Iqra Academy Primary School, Clayton Church of England Primary School, St. William's Catholic Primary School and Farnham Primary School all took part in providing 100 pictures which have been framed and placed on the walls of a corridor on the hospital’s top floor overlooking the new £28 million wing taking shape below.

The initiative to turn the former drab-looking corridor into a viewing gallery was led by Hayley Collis, who is the fundraiser for Bradford Hospitals Charity.

Pupils were asked to draw their visions of the new wing which will be home to children’s wards, elderly care wards and a 16-bed critical care unit along with a new retail concourse for visitors, patients and staff.

Mrs Collis said: "This new art gallery not only provides a welcome distraction for our patients but floods the corridor with bright colours and gives visitors something to talk about when they come up to take a look at how our new hospital wing is developing.

"Many people who have come up to have a look have told me that they think the pictures are a great idea and I couldn’t agree more. What was once a drab hospital corridor has now been brought to life with colourful art by the children of Bradford.”

Some of the pupils' artwork will soon be going up on giant hoardings around the perimeter of the construction site where work on the new wing started in April and is due to continue until autumn next year.

It is hoped the work on the new wing's structure, including the floors, will be finished by the end of December when workers will then turn their attention to the external walls.

Clive Kay, chief executive of Bradford Teaching Hospitals, said: “The new BRI hospital wing is a significant investment for Bradford Teaching Hospitals and it will enable us to transform the way in which we care for patients.

More schools are being invited to join the art scheme on a weekly basis so even more pictures can go up.

Any schools who would like to get involved should email hayley.collis@bthft.nhs.uk or call her on 01274 274809.