Work is under way on a refurbishment programme for a hospital ward which treats Bradford cancer patients.

Patients have been moved out of the Annette Fox Haematology Unit at Bradford Royal Infirmary to Ward 26.

The work includes refurbishment of the patients' quarters, the treatment and waiting areas and the nursing rooms.

The ward's walls and flooring will also be revamped to give the best possible conditions for patients.

Improvements to the ward are scheduled to be completed by mid-January.

The revamp, which is expected to cost about £25,000, is being funded by the Annette Fox Leukaemia Research Fund.

Lisa Bailey, fund administrator, said the improvements would benefit hundreds of patients cared for on the ward each year.

"This work is essential for the ward to stay at the forefront of cancer care in the city," she said.

"We have to make sure that we keep up to scratch with the latest hygiene conditions for patients and this refurbishment will allow us to do that.

"This work has been funded through the ongoing generosity of the people of Bradford."

Mrs Bailey said patients' care would not be affected by the work.

She said: "These renovations won't affect services at all. Everything will run as normal on Ward 26."

Meanwhile, tickets are still available for the fund's annual gala dinner dance.

The glittering night out at the Craiglands Hotel in Ilkley on January 30 will feature rock band Smokie, who will perform free of charge.

The annual ball will be the 13th arranged by the charity. Last year it raised £37,638.

The cash is being spent on the refurbishment and the remainder has gone on other projects such as research costs, aromatherapy for patients and infusion pumps used to deliver chemotherapy drugs.

Sunwin Motors is offering a car as first prize and there will be an auction and raffle at the dinner.

Tickets cost £60 and are available by telephoning (01274) 364168.

The fund was set up in 1980 in memory of Annette Fox, who died from leukaemia at the age of 17.