THEY were the gifts that were meant to brighten up Christmas Day for dozens of sick children unable to be at home.

But callous thieves have raided a locked cupboard on a children's ward at Southampton General Hospital packed full of special presents for the big day.

Devastated nurses have branded the thieves the “lowest of the low” for stealing a games console which was meant to provide some much-needed festive joy for youngsters forced to spend Christmas in hospital.

But within hours of the Daily Echo breaking the story, members of the public rallied together to do their bit to raise money for the Southampton children's ward.

Police are now hunting for the raider who seized the Playstation 3, which had been donated to the hospital by a kind member of the public.

The brand new console, worth about £200, had been kept in a padlocked cupboard in a playroom in the paediatric medical ward.

Throughout the festive season dozens of generous members of the public have been donating gifts for children staying at the hospital.

But this was a special present that staff had held back as a gift for ill and injured youngsters on Christmas Day.

However yesterday, horrified staff discovered that it had been taken.

A thief had forced open the cupboard at some point over the weekend and made off with the Playstation.

Staff believe the raider may have been disturbed, as another games console and games were left behind in the cupboard.

Outraged staff have condemned the thief, with senior matron Cath Battrick telling the Daily Echo: “They are the lowest of the low stealing things like that from children at a hospital.

“It was going to be one of their only forms of entertainment over Christmas.”

And Joyce Stebbings, play service manager, added: “They are heartless simply because of the fact they haven't thought about the children and the fact it was meant to be a present for the children who have to spend Christmas in hospital.

“We were saving it as something different for them to use, we thought it would be nice for the children.

“I'm disgusted. A lot of the children could have had some use out of it.

“The children are now going to miss out at Christmas because of this.

“Some children are in there for months, so having that kind of equipment is a major thing for us, the fact that someone has stolen is unfair.

“I think it has ruined Christmas, especially for the older children who don't want someone sitting with them all of the time.”

Anyone with information about the theft should contact 101 or Crimstoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.