Favourite things put in the picture

CHILDREN are being given a chance to leave a lasting mark on one of the most important developments at Weston General Hospital for years.The Weston & Somerset Mercury and the hospital are launching a competition for youngsters to design pieces of art which will go on display in the new children's ward.This week, information packs have been sent out to schools which have primary age children giving details of how to take part in the competition.Young artists are being invited to draw their favourite thing along certain themes. Different schools have been allotted different themes to make sure there is a wide selection of pictures.Artist Angela Morley will then choose some of the pictures to recreate on tiles which will go on permanent display at the new ward along with the young artists' names. Angela is a familiar face to children at many schools. She was an artist in residence for Weston Education Achievement Zone (WEAZ) and has more recently worked on special commissions for schools.The new 'day ward' for children will be a place where youngsters can stay while tests are carried out or they are recovering from treatment.It is one of several new facilities which will be paid for with the help of the £500,000 Weston Super Kids Appeal. Mercury news editor Andy Ridgway said: "We want to make the new children's ward a bright and happy place to be."The work that children create in their classrooms will be the first thing that many youngsters see when they walk into the new ward and I'm sure it will put a smile on their faces."Hospital chief executive Mark Gritten said: "It is a well known fact that colours and environment help to speed a patient's recovery, particularly when it comes to children."This will help our young patients, as well as brightening up the new paediatric ward."The new ward is likely to open at the Grange Road hospital in the autumn.