PARENTS and kids snapped up a week of traditional games held in the middle of the children's wards at Ealing Hospital.

Play leaders and teachers laid on Monopoly, puzzles and board games for National Play in Hospitals week, which runs from October 8 to 14. The prime aim, apart from bringing a little light-hearted fun to sick children, was to encourage adults and children to play together.

Organiser and play leader Cecily Mathias said:"We had all sorts of games, including Guess the Shapes and number of sweets in a jar - the winner will be announced at the end of the week - a chess challenge and quizzes for the teenagers.

"We wanted everyone to get involved and to show parents how much fun it is to play with their children. So many of them don't know where to start.

"It was fantastic. There was a real buzz on the wards and in the playroom. Everyone got very excited and the kids just loved it. The parents and some of the nurses took part. It was like coming to an all-day party." She also paid tribute to teacher Ania Gedye for her efforts during the week.

Senior sister Varsha Shah, on the opposite ward, said:"It was great fun, with the doctors doing their rounds in the middle of a game of Monopoly."

Kay Larkin, child services manager for the tenth-floor wards, said:"This was a fantastic initiative of Cecily's and we are all delighted it has gone so well.

"It's great to have something different for the children to do if they are well enough to take part and even better to see the parents joining in."

The staff all said they were very grateful to Waitrose for donating £435 for the games, through its green coin collection.