POORLY children and their families enjoyed a day out at a zoo which put a huge smile on their faces.

Youngsters at the Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital in Brighton were invited to Drusillas Park near Alfriston and they enjoyed a special day.

Amy Farmer, of the Play Team at the Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital, said: “We would like to say thank you to Drusillas and Rockinghorse for allowing some of the Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital patients and their families to enjoy a day out. Days out like this make such a difference to these families who have spent so much time in hospital, it was lovely to see so many smiley faces enjoying time together.”

Drusillas Park is supporting Rockinghorse, the hospital ‘s charity arm, as their charity of the Year 2018.

Cheryl Piper, PR and Communications Manager at Rockinghorse, said they enjoyed a “fantastic day” at Drusillas” and thanked the zoo for donating the family tickets.

She added: “The team here at Rockinghorse are so pleased to be the park’s chosen charity for 2018 and we really appreciate their support.”

Drusillas’ managing director, Christine Smith, was overjoyed to hear the children had enjoyed their day so much.

She said: “We are thrilled to be working with Rockinghorse in 2018.”

“As Drusillas Park is enjoyed by so many young families it is very important to us to support a charity that provides such amazing care for children.

“We are very proud to be partnering with Rockinghorse and look forward to continuing to work closely with them over the course of the year.

“We are so pleased to hear everyone enjoyed their day out at Drusillas.”

Rockinghorse Children’s Charity aims to improve the lives of sick children throughout Sussex.

They are the official fundraising arm of the Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital, based at the Royal Sussex County Hospital.

The charity raises money for life-saving and cutting-edge medical equipment, whilst ensuring that children are treated in an environment better suited to their needs.

Rockinghorse also supports the Trevor Mann Baby Unit, also at the Royal Sussex in Brighton, the Special Care Baby Unit based at the Princess Royal Hospital in Haywards Heath and other paediatric services and respite centres throughout the county.

Working in partnership with these services, Rockinghorse’s aim is to make them stimulating, cutting edge and accessible for the many babies, children and teenagers who need them.