Dozens of toy rabbits have found a new home - in a children's ward of a hospital.

The 18in tall bunnies, known as Tweaks 2000, have been selling fast as £10 Christmas presents at the Allders store in Oxford.

However, staff kept some aside for the young patients at Oxford's John Radcliffe Hospital to help them take their minds off the real reasons they were there.

Susannah Hart, merchandise manager at the store, said: "The Tweaks have Millennium bells on them and wear a scarf.

"For every one we sell, the company donates £1 to our chosen charity, the Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital. But, being an Oxford branch, we were also allocated some to give to one of our own local children's wards."

The rabbits have gone down well on Ward 4b at the John Radcliffe.

One of the staff nurses said: "It gives the children something different to look at.

"The toys are also quite tactile and they enjoy sitting and stroking them."

Story date: Tuesday 07 December

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