SUPPORT boxes - to help those with mental health issues - have been donated to Royal Blackburn and Burnley General Hospital.

The seven boxes were handed over by the Al-Khair Foundation and contain cards, games, reading material and colouring books which can be used by staff and patients on a one-to-one basis.

Chaplain David Anderson, who leads part of the East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust's improvement work around mental health, said: "Sometimes, due to their emotional feelings, it is necessary for these patients to receive 1:1 care, in order to keep them safe.

"The activity boxes provided by the Al-Khair Foundation enable staff to interact better with these patients while they are under observation."

Zubair Valimulla, liaison officer for foundation, said: "Our foundation is once again delighted to assist with this innovative project initiated by the hospital’s chaplaincy department that helps mental health patients with their wellbeing during their stay in the hospital.

"I hope that this service will make a big difference."