Between Black Friday and Mayhem Monday, it would be easy to imagine that the whole point of Christmas is to spend, spend, spend.

We all know that it isn't, of course, but it's easy to be seduced into a consumerist stance on the festive period, with the associated stresses and financial hangover looming in the New Year wings.

Still, there is nothing like the joy that results from giving someone a gift, and there can be few more deserving cases than those children who will be spending Christmas in hospital this year.

There are more than 60 young people with a variety of illnesses and conditions who won't be at home with their families this Christmas, but that doesn't mean they have to go without.

Thanks especially to the generosity of well-wishers across Bradford, staff at the children's wards at Bradford Royal Infirmary have been this week handing out toys and games to those children stuck in hospital for the festivities.

With Father Christmas on hand to dish out the goodies, full marks must go to the staff for doing their utmost to make the hospital a home from home for these children, many of whom will be very poorly, out of sorts and even scared.

The presents help distract the children from their troubles and bring a bit of a party atmosphere to the children's wards, which is so important at this time of year.

So for those of us who will be spending Christmas with our friends, family and loved ones, we should perhaps count our blessings this year and consider ourselves lucky for what we have.

And, next year, perhaps there will be even more contributions for the children's ward at BRI at Christmas.