Presents have come early this Christmas for Basildon Hospital's premature babies - thanks to kind-hearted Brett Allen.

The eight-year-old gave £50 of his life savings to the hospital's baby care unit.

Brett, of Church Road, Basildon, made the generous donation after an assembly at Manor House Junior School on helping others.

He put aside his own Christmas spending plans and cracked open the piggy bank so vulnerable babies could get the best possible start in life.

Proud nan Jan Sharpe, 58, said: "There was a discussion in his school assembly about helping people and he came back and said he wanted to help new babies that were born too soon.

"It puts us to shame, his parents are very proud."

Hospital chiefs thanked Brett for his donation and gave him a VIP tour of the unit. Jan said: "The hospital were ecstatic about it."

Generous - Brett holds eight-week-old Marley who was 13 weeks premature with ward manager Tracey Glester

Picture: MAXINE CLARKE

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