KIND-hearted volunteers from a multi-faith organisation have been bringing Christmas cheers to patients of a hospice.

More than 20 members of Connect UK spent their Christmas Day morning talking to patients and handing out festive hampers at East Lancashire Hospice.

The group, aged 15 to 64, put together 15 hampers of Christmas items.

Goodies include chocolates and food donated by businesses to distribute on Christmas Day to the patients and staff.

The multi-faith organisation, which aims to help charities in Blackburn and across East Lancashire, has raised more than £60,000 for the hospice this year.

Fundraising events held included bag packing, car washing, mosque collection and Bollywood nights.

Cllr Salim Sidat, MBE, chairman of the group, said: “You have to have fun raising money for such serious causes.

“We could have had lots more members on the day but we didn’t want it to be too overwhelming for the patients.

"They know that they are putting something back into the community.

"What we find is that more of the patients just want someone to talk to.

"The hospice is very close to me, and I’m one of the lucky ones. I want to help others because health really is wealth.

"Being there makes the members reflect on what they have and previous trips to the hospice have brought them to tears.”

Sharon Crymble, fundraising manager at the hospice, thanked Connect UK for their continued support.

She said: “We are so thankful to the whole group for their continued support.

"It's heart warming to see how much people care about the hospice and giving up time away from their families on Christmas Day.”