British journalist and TV presenter Dame Esther Rantzen has pledged her support for the East & North Herts Hospitals Charity, launching the Magic of Play Appeal, which aims to raise £250k to build a new playroom for sick children.

Rantzen, known for launching ChildLine in 1986, has also been announced as patron of the charity and said 'Hospitals can be scary, daunting places for children... I am appealing to the local community to support this new appeal, and help raise the £250k needed to make the new playroom a reality for local sick children'.