A TEAM of volunteers from a Lakeside jewellery store has helped make family accommodation at Basildon Hospital sparkle ahead of its reopening next month.

While their store undergoes refurbishment, staff from Beaverbrooks swapped jewellery for paintbrushes and gardening tools to support Mid and South Essex Hospitals Charity to improve Polly's Pad parent accommodation.

Polly's Pad offers a home-from-home for families so they can stay close to loved ones receiving treatment at Basildon Hospital, helping to ease the stress of long hospital stays.

The team spent the day helping to prepare the accommodation for any families using it from September.

They cleared outdoor areas, jet washed surfaces, painted fences and walls, planted flowers and transformed an unused space into a bright and welcoming environment.

The volunteer day formed part of Beaverbrooks' commitment to supporting local communities and making a positive difference beyond the workplace.

Clair Grayston, Head of Fundraising at Mid and South Essex Hospitals Charity, said: "We are incredibly grateful to the Beaverbrooks Lakeside team for giving their time and energy to support Polly's Pad. They worked tirelessly throughout the day and have transformed the outdoor spaces.

"The accommodation provides an important base for families during some of the most challenging times in their lives.

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"Thanks to the team's hard work, any families who need use the space when it reopens will be welcomed into a brighter, more inviting environment."