DISGUSTED hospital staff have rapped thieves who stole play equipment from a Southampton children's ward.

The equipment - a Sony Play Station and three games worth about £300 - was taken during a busy afternoon at the G2 Ward at Southampton General Hospital.

The culprits broke into a cabinet and stole the games which are used to entertain sick children and speed up their recovery.

Play specialist Bridget Kandiah said: "Caring people in the community spent hours raising the money for that machine.

"Children do sponsored spell-ins or sponsored walks, adults hold raffles and competitions to raise money to buy equipment for the sick children in hospital so that time passes more quickly for them.

"Then somebody comes along and steals the computers. I hope they feel good about themselves - you can't sink any lower than stealing from a sick child."

The play equipment had been locked away with two padlocks but these were prised open.

"It was very busy on the ward and no one saw anything - it's not the first time something's gone missing.

"The toys are really important to help the children get better.

"The average length of stay for a child in hospital has reduced from 10-14 days to three to four days since play staff were introduced over 20 years ago."

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