A GENEROUS toddler worked hard to raise money to buy Christmas presents for children in hospital.

Lacey Hill watched a TV programme about children with cancer who were spending the festive season on a ward and decided to give them some gifts.

The three-year-old said: “I was so sad about it because they’re going to be really sad at Christmas with no presents.

"I decided I wanted to take some presents to them instead.”

Her mum, Becky Hill, said she would need to help out with small jobs to raise the money, so the toddler took on tasks for the family such as cleaning, doing the laundry and vacuuming.

Dad Jason Hill works at recruitment firm Hudson Banks in Cirencester and his employers decided to help the cause by donating £75, bringing Lacey's total to £280.

She went shopping with her mum and bought a trolley full of presents.

Becky said: “She went around with a little tin and she asked our family to help with some chores to raise the money.

"She is so proud of herself and we as parents are proud of her.

“A lot of what we bought was stuff that she would have wanted. I was expecting her to want to keep them but she just has been so set on delivering them.”

Becky put a post on Facebook to see whether there were any hospitals interested in her daughter's kind scheme.

A child play specialist at Bath's Royal United Hospital got in touch, so the Hills paid a visit to deliver the gifts.

Becky told the Adver: “It was great, everyone loved it. It’s a massive thing for just a three-year-old to go and do.

“I thought it was just going to be a couple of selection boxes and some toys but it’s spiralled into something bigger.”

The RUH decided to give Lacey her own present to say thank you.

Lacey said: “They gave me a box that had some presents inside, they gave me a cuddly toy, I really liked that.”

The rest of the bags filled with toys were given to a family who would have had nothing for Christmas.

Becky said: “I know a social worker and she looks after families and there’s one particular family who has been unfortunate over the last year.

“They have nothing so we gave them around three bags so they would have a bit of a Christmas to look forward to.”