Staff at the region's biggest hospital are calling on the public to help ensure patients on wards over Christmas are given presents.

So far around a third of the required number of presents have been given in response to the Evening News' Christmas appeal, which is run with the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital (N&N).

The appeal aims to get 1,000 presents donated, which will be given to sick and injured people at the N&N on Christmas Day.

Several businesses have already supported the appeal, including Langleys Toys who have donated a variety of gifts for children and teenagers, and Tesco who have offered their Harford Bridge store as a drop-off point for donations. Customers of the store have so far filled two trolleys with gifts.

Visitors to the N&N have also been contributing, with delivery stations at each main reception regularly filled with donated gifts.

But with just under two weeks left of the appeal the hospital is still in need of donations, particularly for adult patients.

Toiletries, puzzle-books, non-scented wipes, and socks are ideal as gifts for these groups, according to the hospital.

Louise Cook, fundraising manager at the N&N, said: 'Christmas is the season of giving, and with two weeks left to go in our Christmas campaign we'd be so grateful if local people would like to get involved in our appeal.

'We've had some lovely gifts for the patients so far, ranging from toiletries to games for children, and we'd like to say a huge thank-you to those who have already donated.'

Emma McKay, the N&N's director of nursing, said: 'We're determined to make sure that patients spending Christmas Day with us can celebrate, and all of the fantastic donations we've had so far are sure to contribute to a magical atmosphere across the hospital on the day.'

Gifts can be donated at the Norwich Evening News offices on Rouen Road, various Natwest branches, the Co-operative Travel branch in Cromer and Tesco Harford Bridge.