Six-year-old Nicky Harris received a gift from Father Christmas - and a cheque to help run a hydrotherapy pool at the hospital ward where he is a patient.

Savers and staff at Rushden branch of the Gateway Building Society put their small change in a bottle on the counter.

The cheque for £54 was collected by Nicky and two nurses from Rushden Hospital's Colton Ward for severely handicapped children, Carole Pantlin and Sharon Robinson.

Father Christmas was spending a whole day at the High Street office listening to last minute messages from toddlers and handing out presents to young customers.