Paediatric staff gave up their lunch break to be a water balloon target for a five-year-old physiotherapy patient.

Little Ellen Moore is having rehabilitation sessions at Basildon Hospital following a bone marrow transplant but the hot weather is making it difficult to exercise.

To give her a fun incentive, seven members of staff gave up their lunch break to be targets in a special water balloon exercise designed to make Ellen build her strength with squats.

Lisa Jones, paediatric physiotherapist, came up with the innovative idea. She said: “I wanted to do something summer-inspired and fun, and what all other kids are doing on their summer holidays.

“She had to sit and stand from her chair without using her hands and each time she managed it she could pick a name from the hat and throw a water balloon at that person.

“She absolutely loved it and was giggling her head off – especially throwing them at her dad.”