Camp Simcha volunteers packed up over 5,000 toys and gifts to be delivered to children in hospital during the holiday period.

The toy drive is an annual event organised by the charity, supporting Jewish children with serious illness and their families.

Presents were collected by Jewish schools and community groups around London for distribution in 104 children's wards, hospices and community nursing teams including Great Ormond Street, Barnet General, Whittington and UCLH.

With the backing of Gift, more than 300 toys also went to families who could not afford Chanucah gifts for their children.

Camp Simcha chief excecutive Neville Goldschneider was "overwhelmed by people's generosity. By the time we had finished packing up the toys which had been donated, the bags were quite literally piled to the ceiling. The pleasure these gifts bring is unquantifiable."