Poorly children facing the prospect of spending Christmas in hospital were given a bit of festive cheer when a former Emmerdale actress visited to read stories to them and hand out presents.
Ursula Holden Gill, who played Alice Dingle, in the Yorkshire soap, spent Christmas Eve afternoon on the children's ward, ward 17, at Bradford Royal Infirmary reading to the youngsters.
The event was organised by volunteer staff on BRI's hospital radio station Radio Royal and presenter George Sumner, secretary Val Williams and trainee presenter Sarah Pickles, 17, joined Ursula on her visit.
It is the first time they have organised such a visit and said they hoped it would go down well with the children and their parents.
Ursula's voice is already a familiar sound to many of the young patients who have stayed in hospital this year as she is a regular on hospital radio station Radio Royal.
Earlier this year she recorded a series of stories to be broadcast during children's hour to help the youngsters relax during their hospital stay.
But a visit in person really put a smile on the faces of the little boys and girls.
Surrounded by youngsters in the play room of ward 17 Ursula begin her visit by reading a selection of stories. She later visited another children's ward, ward two and presents were handed out. "Since I left Emmerdale last year I have been doing a lot of story telling, which is my background," said Ursula. "I do a mix of stories.
"Today it is Christmas Eve and I didn't want to be out shopping - I wanted to give something back to the children."
Louise Fox, matron of children's services at Bradford Teaching Hospitals, said visits always went down well at this time of year. Just look at their faces," she said.
"It means a lot to the children."
Ursula added: "My relationship with the hospital radio station began in January when George invited me in and I told stories for children's hour every month.
"We are now working on a CD that can be sent to all the hospitals in the country."
e-mail: claire.lomax@bradford.newsquest.co.uk
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