Gethin and the crew give Bluebell Wood kids a treat

THERE was a “magical” early Christmas treat—and a very early start—at Bluebell Wood as ITV’s Daybreak crew paid a visit this week.

Smiling youngsters were given gifts from Father Christmas as presenter Gethin Jones reported live from the North Anston children’s hospice.

The festive treat delighted Jamie Smith, Oliver Anderson and sibling group member Bobby Anderson in front of a TV audience of about 700,000.

Jamie’s mum Sarah said: “It was a wonderful experience for both of us. Gethin got

Jamie a special present and presented it to him live on air. Jamie’s face was a picture. He was over the moon.”

Head of fund-raising Helen Mower said: “There was a great amount of excitement at Santa being here.

“He presented presents to the children and then we had entertainment from singers, a steel band and dancers.

“It was a really lovely, fun morning for the children and their families. “It was an early start for us in the morning, from about 4am, but the children couldn’t wait to get up.

They were really on a high.

“Gethin was absolutely lovely with the children. He spent lots of time with them and they did several links from the studio with him between 6.45 and 8am.”

Nigel Solway, from support group Blu Crew, added: “This was a privilege for us, and we were honoured to provide festive entertainment for our chosen charity.

“It’s so important to us to support Bluebell Wood because the hospice does fantastic work with children with a shortened life expectancy and their families, and receives no statutory government funding.”

Charity chief executive Sarah Champion said: “It was an absolutely magical experience for all the children.

“We’d like to thank Santa, Gethin Jones and the Daybreak team for making this possible, and also to Steel Pantastics, the Blu Crew and SDJ dance group for providing the festive entertainment.”