Independent balloon artists have unveiled a festive display for a children's ward at a Kent hospital.

The team of women spent nine hours at Tunbridge Wells Hospital blowing up the creations.

It was initially organised by Debbie Boxall, who runs Dream Higher Events in West Malling.

She and a group of eight ladies, all who own independent balloon businesses in north-west Kent, worked together to create the display.

"After I put a message in our group chat, we decided to all get together to do a big display," she explained.

"I previously had contacts at the hospital after doing displays for them before – they said 'yes' and it just snowballed from there.

"We needed to get sponsors, as we couldn't afford it with everything going through the roof at the moment.

"Esquire developments, Qualatex balloons and Kalisan balloons all took the weight off the project."

Two years ago Debbie's son, Blake, was rushed into emergency surgery on Christmas day at the hospital.

At the time the five-year-old was in a freak accident, with a 3cm shard of glass stuck in his back next to his spine.

She said: "They were brilliant, and provided 'Santa's gift bags' on the day from families who had donated.

"It diverted his mind away from his operations and really resonated with me."

Last Monday, the balloon artists decided to create a 'winter wonderland' in the Hedgehog Ward at the hospital.

It is a 23-bed inpatient unit caring for sick children from birth to the age of 16.

Each bedroom allows one parent or carer to stay with the child overnight, and it is open 24 hours, seven days a week.

The display included a gingerbread house in the waiting room, as well as colourful garlands along the nurses' station and corridor.

"I'm so creative," the 36-year-old said. "I didn't know how we were going to do it but we wanted to make it happen.

"We all had a section each – you should have seen us carrying these massive bags of balloons though the hospital!"

There were more than 2,000 balloons involved, with the gingerbread house being made up of two layers and a separate roof.

Debbie added: "Because the ward was live, it was so emotional being in that environment, and feeling the pressure that they deal with.

"Everyone was working so hard and the waiting room was packed with parents and kids.

"One member of staff thanked us for entertaining her through her seven-and-a-half hour shift. It was so lovely."

After uploading some of the images onto a local Facebook group, the post has received more than 1,000 likes and 120 comments.

One person commented: "My son was very poorly that day and we spent 7.5 hours in the waiting room watching your team build this.

"It was beautiful, well done."

Another said: "Thank you very much. They are so amazing.

"It brought a little smile to my boy while we were there this Wednesday."