CHILDREN at a hospital in Zimbabwe have received toys plus money for a new playground thanks to caring people from the district.

Keighley Salvation Army officers, lieutenants Ben and Rebecka Cotterill, who helped raise the funds, have visited the hospital to deliver the items in person. Howard Hospital was rebuilt by the church, and the congregations at the Keighley and Sunderland Millfield corps worked together to raise cash.

Ben, the commanding officer at Keighley, said: “The new hospital has been wonderful for the community." but Rebecka and I were surprised at how many young children stayed for weeks with no toys to play with and no playground.

“We realised that toys and a playground could make a big difference so we decided to raise some money and deliver it ourselves!”