A memorial service for bereaved parents at a Bradford hospital has been updated to remove the religion and include more families.

Bradford Royal Infirmary's Shared Memories service has shed its predominantly Christian form in favour of a secular structure based around a children's story, to appeal to all faiths as well as agnostics and atheists. The religious service for bereaved families and friends of children, which had been held twice yearly, will be held in the hospital's lecture theatre rather than the chapel to shake off its religious image.

Chaplaincy manager Chris Johnson said: "In the past the approach was definitely religious and predominantly Christian.

"In our multi-faith and multi-cultural environment, that is no longer acceptable and so this new approach will not have any religious content.

"This doesn't stop people coming and praying - there will be many quiet spaces to do this - but there will not be any formal prayers."

Music and poems will replace prayers and the revamped event will be structured around Roger McGough's children's tale, The Kite and Caitlin, which tells the story of a little girl's journey from life to death.

Chaplain David Muschamp said: "We contacted Roger McGough who gave us permission to use the story as a vehicle for this shared remembrance. We felt this would help people to move on in a positive way in their journey of bereavement.

"People will write the names of their loved ones on paper leaves when they come in. The names will be read out and leaves ung on branches."

Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust staff and volunteers from the chaplaincy and children's services joined the Baby Unit Regional Parents Society for the memorial's relaunch.

Hindu chaplain Krishan Kumar Mittal said: "I fully support this event. It is a great idea. We believe human beings are part of one big family and we accept every person and embrace them - whether they believe in God or not."

Muslim chaplain Mohammed Arshad added: "This is a support mechanism to help the bereaved through a difficult stage in their lives and help them understand there are other people who have experienced the same thing, regardless of race, colour, creed or gender."

The Shared Memories event starts at 2pm in the lecture theatre, Field House, Bradford Royal Infirmary, on September 13.