THE Children’s Unit at Musgrove Park Hospital in Taunton has received books worth almost £400 of books.

Jan Oliver, of Usbourne Books, used the company’s Community Book Pledge scheme to encourage donations from local businesses.

She said: “I wrote to businesses in the Taunton and Wellington area, inviting them to make a donation of books.

“I expected to raise a couple of hundred pounds. In the end I received over £300 in donations from a wide range of companies - South West Water, Buff Urban Day Spa, Summerfield Developments, Bigwood and Partners and Reaction Electric. Usbourne then added another £90.”

Jane Horne, a play specialist at Musgrove, said: “This was a very generous donation and the children here have really enjoyed the books. We know that being in a hospital can be boring for the children and reading or being read to can make a big difference.”