BIG-HEARTED Evening Press readers have stepped in to supply new playthings for sick children - after thieves raided their toy cupboard.

Hairdresser Terry Smith was so appalled when he read our report about callous thieves who stole PlayStation games worth more than £1,000 from York Hospital's children's ward that he immediately began raising cash to buy some more.

Mr Smith, owner of Classic Cutz Barbershop in Fourth Avenue, Heworth, has now bought several new PlayStation games for the sick youngsters, along with children's books and videos, with cash donations made by himself and his customers.

"It's so sad and sickening that these children have been put in this position," he said.

"I don't know how someone could be so callous. I urge whoever has committed this crime to return the PlayStation games to the children's ward.

"I hope that replacing some of the items will put some of the happiness back in the children's lives," he said, adding that he hoped more people would come forward to help restock the ward's toy cupboard.

Children's ward nursery nurse Rachel Wilson welcomed the news that readers were pulling together to find new games for bored young people stuck in hospital.

She said: "It's fantastic, brilliant news.

"I think it's really nice that people have felt sorry for us. It's wonderful that they are making donations.

"It wasn't us that the games were stolen from - it was the children."

Regular young visitors to the ward had been disappointed when they returned to hospital to find that their favourite PlayStation games were no longer there, she said.

"It (the PlayStation) is the main thing that we have for them here," she added.

Now York City Knights supporters are also rallying round to find PlayStation games to send in to the hospital.

Gary Hall, committee member of the York City Knights Supporters' Club, has posted an appeal on the club's website asking for donations to be made.

"I think it's absolutely despicable that anyone could stoop so low as to steal something from a children's ward," he said.

Anyone who would like to donate replacement games is asked to phone the hospital on 01904 726117.

Police are still investigating the theft. No one has been arrested.

Updated: 10:36 Friday, April 01, 2005