Patients are guaranteed a smile this Christmas day as the community donated more than 1,000 presents.

Originally just for the elderly, the appeal has been so successful that everyone in Watford General Hospital will receive a gift.

Businesses, individuals and Watford General Hospital staff ordered and brought in presents for patients after the appeal was launched in November.

Samantha Sherratt, Director of Raise, the hospital's charity, said: “We are bowled over by the community’s generosity; our office has looked like Santa’s grotto for about a fortnight!

"There is lovely array of gifts - chocolates, gloves, sparkly scarves and toiletry gift sets.

"We would like to thank everyone who has donated, especially our corporate friends at ASDA, Marks and Spencer, Slater and Gordon, Tusker and the Property Professionals Breakfast Club.

“We were also touched by the kindness of individual members of the public. One well-wisher left a card with their present addressed to ‘a new friend’.

"Two youngsters – aged eight and nine and who call themselves the ‘advent kindness fairies’, chose the appeal for their ‘random acts of kindness’. It was so heart-warming to see the extent of the public’s love for their hospitals and their patients. We would like to say a huge thank you to everyone whose gifts will help spread a little magic this Christmas”.

Chocolates, toiletries, sweets and biscuits flooded into the hospital, and have now been wrapped.

Members of the Property Professionals Breakfast Club bought gifts for patients not just in Watford, but Hemel Hempstead and St Albans City hospitals.

The Breakfast Club is made up of local property professionals, surveyors, solicitors and others who meet regularly to exchange views and experiences in the marketplace.

Richard Carlowe, the Breakfast Club’s organiser, said: “We were delighted to support the Watford Cots appeal in the spring, so it felt only right to respond to the call for gifts for older patients in the run up to Christmas. We all have loved ones who have received care in these West Hertfordshire hospitals, so we’re donating these gifts with our very best wishes.”

For more information contact Raise on 07393 232313 or email Samantha.sherratt@whht.nhs.uk