The simple joy of a family coming together at home for Christmas was first experienced by one Sutton family last year after three previous spent in hospital.

The special feeling they enjoyed last year touched the hearts of sisters, who decided to spend their pocket money on gifts for youngsters at Queen Mary Hospital, which cared for their younger siblings Kyle, three, and Alfie, two, for three straight Christmases.

Kerri Laws, 31, of Ferndale Crescent, in Carshalton, said: “It was the first time they were able to spend Christmas at home together.

“And because of that, my daughters decided they wanted to give presents to the kids who will spend Christmas in hospital.

“It took my heart.”

The two boys are pupils at Stanley Park Infant School. Kyle has bronchomalacia and autism while Alfie has global developmental delay and a muscle condition.

After experiencing what it was like having their brothers in hospital, and knowing what it is like to be home as a family for Christmas, sisters, Ellie-May, 10, and Megan, six, one morning decided to buy presents for sick children who would not be home this holiday season.

They handed the gifts into the hospital on Tuesday, December 23.

Mrs Laws said: “They bought books with a little Christmas teddy in it and they have also got hand puppets of Christmas characters.

“I cried when they told me.

“They woke me up saying this is what they wanted to do as they felt for the children at the hospital as we have experienced this for the past three years.

“And they just want to make the children happy.

“They wanted to give something back to the hospital and its staff too.

“I was flabbergasted, it was such a lovely thing.”

Megan said: “It was done because my brothers, they were in hospital each Christmas so me and my sister were talking and we just thought of the idea.”

Ellie-May added: “My brothers have been in hospital for Christmas and I know how it feels for the families who have children in hospital. It’s hard.

“The idea to do this just popped into our heads when we were in bed and we thought it would be a nice idea to do it for the kids who have to stay in hospital this Christmas.

“Visiting my brothers was hard.

“It was hard to see them suffering throughout, until they were safely through.

“I know what families are feeling having to go through all of this and we thought doing this was more important than our pocket money.”