Andover War Memorial Hospital has appealed for residents of Andover to help it bring a bit of festive cheer this year.

Due to Covid restrictions, the hospital is unable to put up decorations on the wards this year, so is instead looking to spruce up the outside of the building and get it looking ready for the yuletide season.

As a result, they are looking for members of the public to donate Christmas decorations, lights and wreaths, which can be dropped off at the hospital.

Krisha Weber, from Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Due to Covid-19 and infection control restrictions, there will be no internal decorations at the hospital this year but we're determined to give staff and patients a festive boost by helping to make the outside of the building as cheerful as possible.

“We're looking for donations of outdoor lights or decorations - big or small - to do this. Anything old or new would be welcome - from baubles and window stickers to solar lights and wreaths.

“Everything will have to go outside rather than inside and ideally be as cheap as possible so it doesn't walk off site! If you have any surplus decorations from last year or can donate decorations or lights we'd be over the moon.”

She told the Advertiser that a team of Christmas elves are ready and waiting to put up the decorations once they arrive.

Andover War Memorial Hospital is desginated as a ‘Covid-free’ site, with any patients showing symptoms sent to hospitals in Basingstoke or Winchester. Only patients who are recovering from the disease are being admitted.

Anyone wishing to donate their Christmas decorations to the hospital should drop them off at the ambulance entrance. The hospital aims to put the decorations up in the first two weeks of December.