Youngsters who visit the Royal Marsden Hospital will benefit from a new 3D pain distraction system following the fundraising efforts of the Belmont Festival.

The works were presented on Friday November 21 after Peter Mattey, organising committee chairman, gave £16,000 to Carly Snowball, matron for the Children's Centre.

The fundraising began in July when the Belmont Festival was staged, and, with each of the systems costing £8,000 a piece, the committee carried on with its efforts to get enough for two.

Mr Mattey said: "The Belmont Festival organising committee was invited to The Oak Centre for Children and Young People to see a system in action and to hear first hand from Kate Winnicott, the play specialist at the Children’s Centre, how the systems are used to distract and relax the patients during painful treatments.  

"She told us how the impact for young people in particular is stunning."

The Belmont Festival is run in partnership with The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity and their fundraising team.  

He added: "We have raised money for a specific purpose, namely to buy 3D Interactive Pain and Anxiety Distraction Systems.  

"These systems offer an amazing range of Interactive sensory features which are designed to distract children from pain during treatment and procedures."